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2005 SESSION

058344344
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 802
Offered January 20, 2005
Celebrating the life of Charles Hardaway Marks.
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Patrons-- Ingram, Abbitt, Albo, Alexander, Amundson, Armstrong, Athey, BaCote, Barlow, Bell, Black, Bland, Brink, Bryant, Byron, Callahan, Carrico, Cline, Cole, Cosgrove, Councill, Cox, Dillard, Dudley, Ebbin, Eisenberg, Fralin, Frederick, Gear, Griffith, Hall, Hamilton, Hargrove, Hogan, Howell, A.T., Howell, W.J., Hugo, Hull, Hurt, Janis, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, D.C., Jones, S.C., Keister, Kilgore, Landes, Lewis, Lingamfelter, Louderback, Marrs, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., May, McDonnell, McDougle, McQuigg, Melvin, Miles, Miller, Moran, Morgan, Nixon, Nutter, O'Bannon, Oder, Orrock, Parrish, Petersen, Phillips, Plum, Pollard, Purkey, Putney, Rapp, Reese, Reid, Rust, Saxman, Scott, E.T., Scott, J.M., Shannon, Sherwood, Shuler, Sickles, Spruill, Stump, Suit, Tata, Van Landingham, Van Yahres, Ward, Wardrup, Ware, O., Ware, R.L., Watts, Weatherholtz, Welch and Wright; Senators: Bell, Blevins, Bolling, Chichester, Colgan, Cuccinelli, Deeds, Devolites Davis, Edwards, Hanger, Hawkins, Houck, Howell, Lambert, Locke, Lucas, Marsh, Martin, Miller, Mims, Newman, Norment, Obenshain, O'Brien, Potts, Puckett, Puller, Quayle, Rerras, Reynolds, Ruff, Saslaw, Stolle, Stosch, Ticer, Wagner, Wampler, Watkins, Whipple and Williams
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WHEREAS, Charles Hardaway Marks of Prince George County served in the House of Delegates from 1962 until 1991, representing the people of Hopewell, Prince George, Charles City, and at times Surry, died November 13, 2004; and

WHEREAS, Hardaway Marks was born on January 31, 1921, in Hopewell and was a product of the Hopewell Public School System, Wake Forest University, Duke University and the University of Virginia Law School; and

WHEREAS, a retired Captain in the United States Marine Corps and Virginia National Guard veteran, Hardaway Marks was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds he sustained in World War II at the Battle of Iwo Jima; and

WHEREAS, an avid defender of the rights of Virginia's citizens, Hardaway Marks established an illustrious law career which spanned 50 years, beginning in the United States Department of Justice, then as a sole practitioner and later as a founding partner of Marks & Harrison, one of the largest personal injury firms in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, when Hardaway Marks retired from the House of Delegates in 1991, he was ranked as one of the 10 most powerful and effective members of the General Assembly and was known as the influential but crusty Chairman of the Courts of Justice Committee, which considers legislation regarding matters of criminal law, civil procedure, the court system, and is charged with the significant duty of selecting qualified candidates for vacant judgeships; and

WHEREAS, Hardaway Marks also served as a member of the House of Delegates standing committees on Privileges and Elections, Corporations, Insurance and Banking (former Chairman), Claims (former Chairman) and Rules and represented the House of Delegates on the Judicial Council of Virginia, District Courts Committee and the Conference of Insurance Legislators; and

WHEREAS, as the founding Chairman of the Commission on the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program, Hardaway Marks sponsored and supported important legislation to decrease the incidence of driving under the influence of alcohol on state highways; and

WHEREAS, a staunch advocate of economic development, Hardaway Marks was a strong supporter of  legislation which established the community college system and consistently voted for legislation to improve the Commonwealth’s educational and transportation infrastructure needs, and he also provided job opportunities for the citizens of the Commonwealth by cofounding several successful small businesses and shopping centers; and

WHEREAS,  Hardaway Marks was the chief patron of the legislation which provided for state recognition of eight Virginia Indian tribes and created the Virginia Indian Commission where he served as the Commission’s first Chairman and because of his commitment to the Virginia Indian community, he was presented the Standing Bear Award; and

WHEREAS, a life-long student of history, Hardaway Marks contributed his considerable talents and experience to create the Indian Gallery at Jamestown Settlement, to form the Historic Hopewell Foundation, and as a trustee of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and as a member of the Virginia-Israel Commission; and

WHEREAS, Hardaway Marks was actively involved in the community as a member of Merchants Hope Episcopal Church, Hopewell United Way, Hopewell Red Cross, Lower James River Association, Masons, Shriners, Loyal Order of the Moose, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Farm Bureau and the former Robert E. Lee Council of the Boy Scouts of America; and

WHEREAS, Hardaway Marks was delighted when the Virginia Route 10 twin bridges, which cross the Appomattox River near Hopewell, were named in his honor in 1998; and

WHEREAS, Charles Hardaway Marks will be remembered, not only for his outstanding career as an attorney and as a legislator with a remarkable legacy of public service, but also for his wisdom and profound dedication to the people of the Commonwealth; 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 a distinguished statesman and  Virginia gentleman, Charles Hardaway Marks; 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 Hardaway Marks as an expression of the great esteem in which his memory is held by the members of the General Assembly and the citizens of Virginia.