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2006 SPECIAL SESSION I

068588533
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5053
Offered May 10, 2006
Celebrating the life of the Honorable Asbury Christian Compton.
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Patrons-- Waddell, Abbitt, Albo, Alexander, Amundson, Armstrong, Athey, BaCote, Barlow, Bell, Bowling, Brink, Bulova, Byron, Callahan, Caputo, Carrico, Cline, Cole, Cosgrove, Cox, Crockett-Stark, Dance, Dudley, Ebbin, Eisenberg, Englin, Fralin, Frederick, Gear, Gilbert, Griffith, Hall, Hamilton, Hargrove, Hogan, Howell, A.T., Howell, W.J., Hugo, Hull, Hurt, Iaquinto, Ingram, Janis, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, D.C., Jones, S.C., Kilgore, Landes, Lewis, Lingamfelter, Lohr, Marsden, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., May, McClellan, McEachin, McQuigg, Melvin, Miller, Moran, Morgan, Nixon, Nutter, O'Bannon, Oder, Orrock, Peace, Phillips, Plum, Poisson, Purkey, Putney, Rapp, Reid, Rust, Saxman, Scott, E.T., Scott, J.M., Shannon, Sherwood, Shuler, Sickles, Spruill, Suit, Tata, Toscano, Tyler, Valentine, Ward, Wardrup, Ware, O., Ware, R.L., Watts, Welch, Wittman and Wright
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WHEREAS, Asbury Christian Compton of Richmond, esteemed citizen and retired Senior Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, died on April 9, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Christian Compton, a native of Hanover County, was born October 24, 1929, grew up in the Town of Ashland, and attended Ashland High School; and

WHEREAS, Christian Compton earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1950 and a law degree in 1953 from Washington and Lee University and received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University in 1975; and

WHEREAS, Christian Compton served his country in the United States Navy on active duty as a commissioned officer from 1953 to 1956, and continued his service in the United States Navy Reserve until 1961; and

WHEREAS, Christian Compton was in practice with the law firm of May, Garrett, Miller, Newman and Compton in Richmond from 1957 to 1966; and

WHEREAS, an excellent attorney, Christian Compton was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Law and Equity Court of the City of Richmond on July 1, 1966, and was elected for a regular term in 1971; and

WHEREAS, in September 1974, Judge Compton was appointed by Governor  Mills E. Godwin, Jr., and elected by the General Assembly to serve on the Supreme Court of Virginia, serving until his retirement in February 2000, when he began service as a Senior Justice; and

WHEREAS, during his time on the bench, Justice Compton built an enviable reputation for his exceptional legal acumen and vast experience and earned the highest admiration and respect from colleagues, attorneys and courthouse staff, and the citizens of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Justice Compton gave generously of his time and immense talents to countless professional, civic, and state organizations, serving as a member of the board of trustees of Washington and Lee University and the Collegiate Schools; as president of the Washington and Lee Alumni Association, Inc.; and as an active member of the American Bar Association, Virginia State Bar Association, and Bar Association of the City of Richmond; and

WHEREAS, concerned about the well-being of his community, Justice Compton was an active and faithful member of Trinity United Methodist Church and its many missions for persons in need; and

WHEREAS, Justice Compton will be fondly remembered for his love of the law and his generous and amiable nature and will be missed by his devoted wife of 52 years, Betty Stephenson Compton, his three daughters and their families, his eight beloved grandsons, and his numerous friends and admirers; 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 outstanding public servant and fine Virginian, the Honorable Asbury Christian Compton; 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 the Honorable Asbury Christian Compton as an expression of the high regard in which his memory is held by the members of the General Assembly.