Apparently all the opposition to the proposed name change of Smith Mountain Lake State Park, caused the bill to be withdrawn. Michael Sluss of the RoanokeTimes reports:

Legislation to name Smith Mountain Lake State Park after former Roanoke Del. Vic Thomas died without a vote in the House of Delegates this morning, ending a short-lived controversy that had roiled some in the lake community.

Del. Watkins Abbitt, I-Appomattox, withdrew House Bill 2343, which would have renamed the park A. Victor Thomas – Smith Mountain Lake State Park. Asked why he struck the bill before a scheduled floor vote, Abbitt said, “I didn’t think it would pass.”

Abbitt’s bill survived a preliminary vote on Saturday, but not before delegates who represent the lake protested the proposed name change. Those lawmakers said constituents had raised concerns that the name change would create confusion and hurt ongoing efforts to market the park to tourists.

Del. Allen Dudley, R-Rocky Mount, who opposed the name change, said: "If we didn’t deal with it today, we would have been dealing with it in the Senate."

The state park system already has plans to name a new visitors center at the park after Thomas, who died last year. Thomas served 30 years in the House and was a tireless advocate of conservation and recreation causes. Abbitt said several sportsmen had approached him with the idea of naming the park after Thomas. The visitor’s center would be nice alternative, Abbitt said.

“Not as nice as the park, but I think it will pass,” Abbitt said.

By Michael Sluss