Former New Kent County supervisor Stran Trout succumbs

Former New Kent County Board of Supervisors member Stran Trout has succumbed.

According to reports, Trout was found in his home after a welfare check was conducted after no one was able to get in contact with him.

Born on Sept. 30, 1942 in Staunton, Trout garnered his high school education in Richmond before officially relocating to New Kent in 1978. From that moment on, Trout’s imprint on the county was highlighted by service work and community outreach.

Trout’s primary stent in county work began in 1992 as a member of New Kent County’s Planning Commission in 1992. After serving for seven consecutive years on the commission, he took his chance in politics, successfully being elected to New Kent County’s Board of Supervisors in 2004 and serving eight years. Other governmental activities include being part of New Kent County’s Historic Commission, New Kent 4-H Advisory Board, and representing the county on the Chickahominy Health District Advisory Board.

After leaving the county’s board of supervisors, Trout became a commissioner on the Virginia Racing Commission that oversees horseracing in the state of Virginia, including Colonial Downs. Other governmental panels he served on include the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission, Richmond Regional Transportation Planning Organization, Capitol Regional Collaborative, and the Governor or Virginia’s Outreach Network.

Trout is fondly known for his work with several community organizations. Among the primary groups he was affiliated with was the Providence Forge Ruritan Club and the New Kent Rotary Club, where he served stents as the president. Other groups Trout served on include the New Kent Community Development Corporation, New Kent Educational Foundation, New Kent County Fair committee, New Kent Chamber of Commerce, New Kent Historical Society, and Providence Forge Volunteer Rescue Squad.

Trout has been honored with a number of awards. He has been honored by the Providence Forge Volunteer Rescue Squad as a life member, planning leadership award form the Virginia Chapter of American Planning, the “Who’s Who” in American Law, Virginia Jacyee Life Member, and the national level of the Ruritan club.

Trout also has a few publications to his name. “A Trip Up the Pamunkey River with a Flag of Truce” and “New Kent Courthouse District- from the 17th to the 21st century” are among his latest. But perhaps what he published the most which was usually the most popular among New Kent County residents were the New Kent History Calendars, which were free and available in county post offices from 2013-2019.

While serving on the board of supervisors, Trout often stood behind his beliefs, even in defeat. In 2010, he fought hard for savings in the county’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) through his proposed amendment. Despite the defeat, he commented, “You have to do what you think is right.”

As a commissioner of the Virginia Racing Commission, Trout’s calm demeanor was instrumental during the negotiation period to reopen Colonial Downs. Trout continued his community outreach as a friendly face, often striking up conversations whether it was at meetings or the county fair. Trout’s involvement and dedication to New Kent was the definition of selfless service.

District 1 representative Thomas Evelyn, who spent time on the board of supervisors with Trout, spoke highly of the influential figure.

“He was Mr. New Kent,” Evelyn said at the beginning of the county’s regular meeting prior to a moment of silent honoring Trout. “He was involved in so many things.

“I had a good and strong friendship with him,” the chairman commented after the meeting. “I was with as a member of New Kent’s Educational Foundation. He has done so much for the community and he will be greatly missed.”

County Administrator Rodney Hathaway was a member of the county’s planning commission when Strout occupied the role of supervisor.

“He really had his hands on a lot of organizations to make this county better,” Hathaway said. “For me personally, he always spoke to me and gave me great advice. Our county has lost someone who has done so much for our community, but we have all lost a great man and even better friend.”