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2006 SPECIAL SESSION I


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5031
Celebrating the life of Harry J. Parrish.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, May 10, 2006
Agreed to by the Senate, May 12, 2006

 

WHEREAS, Harry J. Parrish, beloved citizen of the Commonwealth and revered member of the House of Delegates since 1982, died on March 28, 2006; and

WHEREAS, born on February 19, 1922, in Fairfax County, Harry Parrish moved with his family, as a child, to Manassas, where he graduated from Osbourn High School in 1940 and later from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with a degree in business administration in 1944; and

WHEREAS, Harry Parrish married his lovely and devoted wife, Mattie Cannon Parrish, on February 12, 1944; and

WHEREAS, rising to the rank of colonel in the course of a long and distinguished military career, Harry Parrish served his country as an accomplished cargo pilot in World War II in the United States Army Air Corps and in Korea and Vietnam in the United States Air Force Reserves; and

WHEREAS, an honored town father, Harry Parrish began his 55 years of public service in 1951 as a member of the Manassas Town Council, also serving 18 years as mayor, during a period of tremendous change and remarkable growth; and

WHEREAS, Harry Parrish was first elected to the House of Delegates in 1981 and was reelected by his constituents, usually unopposed, for 13 consecutive terms as a result of his excellent and dutiful representation of the 50th District, comprised of the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, as well as parts of Prince William County; and

WHEREAS, an esteemed senior lawmaker, Harry Parrish was the fourth-ranking Republican and seventh-ranking member of the House of Delegates, and was the oldest legislator, at age 84, of the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, Harry Parrish was an admired leader and an honored elder statesman of the House Commerce and Labor Committee, the House Rules Committee and Joint Rules Committee, and a longtime chairman of the prestigious House Finance Committee; and

WHEREAS, with patience and civility, Harry Parrish inspired and mentored many new legislators and by eminent example, exhibited every virtue of statesmanship and excellence in leadership; and

WHEREAS, throughout his long and distinguished career, Harry Parrish served the Commonwealth with integrity and profound wisdom and will long be remembered for his great skill with amiable diplomacy and compromise; and

WHEREAS, Harry Parrish was a public servant who listened to his constituents with an open mind and a compassionate heart and quietly compiled a remarkable legislative record in the legislature on their behalf and in their best interests; and

WHEREAS, dedicated to improving the quality of life for all of the people of Virginia and the nation, Harry Parrish graciously contributed his time and immense talents throughout his public life, to countless professional, veterans, and civic organizations on the local, state, and national levels; and

WHEREAS, committed to the well-being of his neighbors, Harry Parrish was an active and faithful member of Grace United Methodist Church; and

WHEREAS, Harry Parrish was extremely proud of his son Harry II, his daughter Judith, and their families, especially his two granddaughters and grandson; and

WHEREAS, a thoughtful lawmaker and loyal friend to all who knew him, Harry Parrish will be missed by his loving family and friends, his colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both houses of the General Assembly, and the citizens of the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the loss of one of its longest-serving and most respected members, Harry J. Parrish; 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 Harry J. Parrish as an expression of the General Assembly's deep and abiding respect for his memory.