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2001 SESSION

017823748
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 895
Offered February 19, 2001
Commending Manley Caldwell Butler.
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Patrons-- Griffith, Bloxom, Bryant, Byron, Cranwell, Dillard, Dudley, Hargrove, Katzen, Landes, Parrish, Putney, Thomas, Weatherholtz, Wilkins and Woodrum; Senator: Trumbo
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WHEREAS, Manley Caldwell Butler of Roanoke has served the citizens of Roanoke and the Commonwealth in a variety of roles for more than 40 years; and

WHEREAS, a native of Roanoke, Caldwell Butler was educated in the Roanoke public schools and is a graduate of the University of Richmond and the University of Virginia Law School; and

WHEREAS, in 1961, running with the encouragement of his friend and former law partner, Linwood Holton, Caldwell Butler won election to the House of Delegates from the 57th House District in Roanoke City; and

WHEREAS, Caldwell Butler became House Minority Leader, leading a small but determined band of Republicans throughout the 1960s; and

WHEREAS, Caldwell Butler won his last term in the House of Delegates in 1969, running as a favor to Linwood Holton, who that year won election as Governor and relied heavily on Caldwell Butler's legislative leadership for the first two years of his term; and

WHEREAS, in 1972, Caldwell Butler won election to the U.S. House of Representatives from the 6th Congressional District and quickly won acclaim as a member of the House Judiciary Committee during the impeachment proceedings against President Nixon; and

WHEREAS, throughout his legislative career, in Richmond and in Washington, Caldwell Butler earned a reputation for independence, choosing to represent his constituents as he saw fit rather than rely on partisan politics or coalition building; and

WHEREAS, Caldwell Butler's independence led him to take often controversial, but always principled, stands on issues as varied as the Voting Rights Act, abortion, bankruptcy laws, and Constitutional amendments regarding the federal budget and equal rights; and

WHEREAS, since his retirement from the Congress in 1982, Caldwell Butler has continued to be an active and influential member of the Republican Party and has been an inspiration to a new generation of politicians; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Manley Caldwell Butler for his many years of distinguished service to the citizens of Roanoke and the Commonwealth; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Manley Caldwell Butler as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration and appreciation for his courageous, committed, and trailblazing political career.