“Everyone knows what B. E. Peterson has meant to our county for the last 26 years – the dedication, the hard work, the leadership, the quality of service he and his staff have provided to our community,” said County Administrator Steve Nichols to the gathered crowd. “It doesn’t get any better, and we are privileged to have him as part of the Fluvanna team that serves our public.”
The Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors presented Peterson with a plaque memorializing his years of service. “I have never experienced a clerk’s office as consistently skilled, knowledgeable, efficient, and courteous as Mr. Peterson’s,” said County Attorney Fred Payne during the presentation.
Peterson played a pivotal role in designing the new courthouse in Palmyra, which was dedicated in 2001. He has said the building’s opening was one of his finest moments as Fluvanna’s clerk. “I consider my very deep involvement in the planning, design and construction phases to be my greatest legacy,” he said. “I have been told by retired judges from all over the state that it is the most beautiful court facility that they have ever seen.”
As people milled around the courthouse foyer, eating cake and chatting, Peterson said, “I’ll miss the job because I think it’s a dream job. The most gratifying thing of all is that I have met so many wonderful people in the 26 and a half years that I’ve been here.”
After supervisors presented him with his plaque, Peterson said, “I truly feel that this is the most wonderful and most inspirational recognition that I’ve ever received. I don’t pretend to deserve it, but I certainly accept it with great humility and great gratitude.
“I did it the easy way,” Peterson joked. “I ran four times, every time unopposed. I want to thank particularly my wonderful staff. It has been an honor to serve the wonderful citizens of Fluvanna County.”
