The General Assembly, at its 1964 Regular Session, adopted House Joint Resolution No. 7, which directed the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council to make a study and report on the advisability and feasibility of transforming the Atlantic Rural Exposition into an authority to be operated as a political subdivision of the State.

The Governor also requested the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council to broaden the scope of the study to include the advisability and feasibility of exempting the property of the Atlantic Rural Exposition from taxation.

The Council assigned the study to Honorable Edward E. Willey, member of the Senate of Virginia, Richmond, and a member of the Council, as Chairman of the Committee to make the initial study and report to the Council. Selected to serve with Senator Willey as members of the Committee were the following: Hale Collins, member of the Senate of Virginia, Covington; Collins Denny, III, Attorney, Richmond; F. Bruce Eberwine, businessman, Suffolk; Herbert Goodman, Vice-President, Northern Virginia Savings and Loan Association, McLean; R. Henry Matthiessen, Jr., member, Executive Committee, and Chairman, Livestock Committee, Virginia State Fair, Hume; Fred G. Pollard, member, House of Delegates, Richmond; Samuel E. Pope, member, House of Delegates, Drewryville; and W. Thomas Rice, President, Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company, Richmond.

The Committee met and organized, electing Samuel E. Pope as Vice-Chairman. John B. Boatwright, Jr. and Robert L. Masden served as Secretary and Recording Secretary, respectively, to the Committee.