Patricia “Tish” Rodman King

Tish and her husband Martin purchased their historic home at Grove Mount near Warsaw, VA in the 1960s as a place for their family to spend summers and weekends. The Kings decided to settle down and retire to the 1787 home due to their love of the region and its rich history.

When they first arrived, Tish and Martin were introduced to privately owned Menokin by Helen and Tayloe Murphy. The Murphys and the Kings began a long journey to save the historic site that was built for Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Francis Lightfoot Lee, in 1769. Their long efforts to save the home finally proved successful when the founders managed to obtain Menokin, 500 acres, and its original woodwork in 1995 with the incorporation of the new Menokin Foundation.

Martin King served as the founding President of the new institution with Tish supporting his efforts in preserving the crumbling site. Tish herself served on the Menokin Board of Trustees after Martin's death in 2004, leading it through a period of growth and professionalization. After retirement, Tish continued to be a staunch supporter and advocate for the restoration of the historic site.