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2002 SESSION

020898528
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 237
Offered February 11, 2002
On the death of Senator Robert Clayton Fitzgerald.
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Patrons-- Saslaw, Barry, Byrne, Chichester, Colgan, Deeds, Edwards, Howell, Lucas, Marsh, Marye, Maxwell, Puckett, Puller, Reynolds, Ticer and Whipple; Delegates: Almand, Armstrong, Brink, Callahan, Hall, Miles, Moran, Phillips, Plum, Stump, Watts and Woodrum
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WHEREAS, Robert Clayton Fitzgerald, a former Fairfax County judge, Commonwealth's Attorney, and two-term member of the Senate of Virginia, died on October 10, 2001; and

WHEREAS, born in Alexandria and a lifelong resident of Virginia, Robert Fitzgerald graduated from the University of Virginia and earned his law degree from the University's law school in 1946; and

WHEREAS, a veteran of service during World War II, Robert Fitzgerald served in the United States Marine Corps in the Pacific Theatre, attaining the rank of captain; and

WHEREAS, in 1951, Robert Fitzgerald was appointed judge of the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, where he served until his appointment as Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney in 1954; and

WHEREAS, following two terms as Commonwealth's Attorney, Robert Fitzgerald was elected to the Senate of Virginia in 1963, where he represented more citizens than any other Senate district in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, during his two terms in the Senate and afterward, Robert Fitzgerald served as chairman of the Virginia Airports Authority and as a member of the Dulles Airport Commission, the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council, and the Senate Ethics Committee; and

WHEREAS, choosing not to run for reelection in 1972, Robert Fitzgerald returned to private law practice, where he represented many Virginia counties in their efforts to avoid being annexed by towns and cities; and

WHEREAS, Robert Fitzgerald served twice as president of the George Mason University Foundation, was a member of the Fairfax and Virginia Bar Associations, and was a former deacon and finance committee chairman of the Middleburg Baptist Church in Middleburg; and

WHEREAS, throughout a long and active career, Robert Fitzgerald served the Northern Virginia community, the Commonwealth, and the nation with great integrity, dedication, and distinction; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of former Senator Robert Clayton Fitzgerald; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Senator Robert Clayton Fitzgerald as an expression of the esteem in which his memory is held by the members of the General Assembly.