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2004 SESSION

047816312
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 44
Offered January 14, 2004
Prefiled January 8, 2004
On the death of Charles Alfred Goodykoontz, Jr.
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Patron—Hall, Baskerville, Jones, D.C., Miles, and O’Bannon
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WHEREAS, Charles Alfred "Alf" Goodykoontz, Jr., the former executive editor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, a prominent and nationally respected newspaper professional, died on October 20, 2003; and

WHEREAS, Alf Goodykoontz started with the Times-Dispatch as a reporter in 1952 and during a career that would last for 41 years, worked in various departments in his rise to the leadership of the paper's news operation; and

WHEREAS, widely known and respected for his integrity, his professionalism, and his strong principles, Alf Goodykoontz served as assistant state editor, state-city news editor, women's news editor, and special projects editor before becoming managing editor in 1969; and

WHEREAS, Alf Goodykoontz was credited with the expansion of the Times-Dispatch state bureau system, which still covers the Commonwealth from Roanoke to Hampton Roads to Northern Virginia; and

WHEREAS, in his position as executive editor, which he assumed in 1982, Alf Goodykoontz oversaw the successful merger of the Richmond Times-Dispatch and the Richmond News Leader; and

WHEREAS, during his long career, Alf Goodykoontz earned an enviable national reputation among newspaper professionals, serving as national treasurer of the Associated Press Managing Editors, national president of the Society of Professional Journalists, and president of the national Sigma Delta Chi Foundation; and

WHEREAS, Alf Goodykoontz was former chair of Virginia Commonwealth University's Mass Communications Advisory Board, the Virginia United Press International Advisory Board, and the Virginia Associated Press Newspapers; and

WHEREAS, Alf Goodykoontz generously shared his talents and expertise as editor-in-residence at seven schools of higher education, including the University of Hawaii at Manoa; and

WHEREAS, honored numerous times for his outstanding contributions to journalism, Alf Goodykoontz received the Emory & Henry Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, the George Mason Award for service to Virginia journalism, and the national Wells Key Award for outstanding service to the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation; and

WHEREAS, in 1992 Alf Goodykoontz was inducted into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of an exceptional Virginian, Charles Alfred Goodykoontz, Jr.; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Charles Alfred Goodykoontz, Jr., as an expression of the esteem in which his memory is held by the members of the General Assembly.