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2004 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 222
Commending William G. O'Brien.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 16, 2004
Agreed to by the Senate, January 22, 2004

WHEREAS, William G. O'Brien has served as Rockingham County Administrator for the past 26 years, providing the citizens of the County with skilled and innovative leadership during a time of change and growth; and

WHEREAS, a graduate of Mansfield University in Pennsylvania, which he attended following four years of service with the United States Marine Corps, William O'Brien earned a master's degree in business and public administration from Southern University and is a graduate of the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, in 1977 William O'Brien was appointed County Administrator by the Rockingham County Board of Supervisors; and

WHEREAS, during his 26-year tenure, William O'Brien has compiled an enviable record of achievement on behalf of the citizens of Rockingham, including impressive accomplishments in education, public utilities and facilities, and economic development; and

WHEREAS, under the supervision of William O'Brien, Rockingham County has seen the replacement or renovation of or addition to each of the County's 20 public schools; and

WHEREAS, during William O’Brien’s years as County Administrator, the Rockingham County jail has been replaced, a new district courts building has been constructed, and the circuit courthouse has been extensively renovated; and

WHEREAS, William O'Brien has been active in the development of Rockingham County's water and sewer system and has overseen the purchase of a site just north of the City of Harrisonburg for development as a business and technology center; and

WHEREAS, William O'Brien has worked cooperatively with Harrisonburg city leaders in developing innovative joint efforts in the areas of social services, emergency communications, and public health; and

WHEREAS, during difficult times in Rockingham, including four major floods and two damaging outbreaks of avian influenza, William O'Brien has provided strong, steady, and effective leadership; and

WHEREAS, over the past 26 years, Rockingham County has grown from a largely rural county of some 50,000 residents to an increasingly diverse and suburban community of nearly 70,000 citizens, and much of the success of this transition is due to the exceptional leadership abilities of William O'Brien; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend William G. O'Brien on his exemplary career of service to the citizens of Rockingham County; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to William G. O'Brien as an expression of the admiration, respect, gratitude, and best wishes of the General Assembly.