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2008 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 12
Commending Dr. Farrar W. Howard.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 11, 2008
Agreed to by the Senate, January 17, 2008

 

WHEREAS, Dr. Farrar W. Howard is commended for his stewardship of Mapsico, the Howard family tree farm, and his many contributions to forestry and conservation in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Farrar Howard first saw the magnificent ice-clad, towering pines on the site of his future home while hunting in a sleet storm on a nearby property in 1960; and

WHEREAS, as a young and prominent physician having completed just over five years in practice, Farrar "Doc" Howard acquired the 624-acre property of Mapsico and subsequently founded a tree farm as both a substantial investment and to provide a good life for his growing family; and 

WHEREAS, for over 48 years, Doc Howard and his beloved wife Jeannette have owned and operated the productive Mapsico Tree Farm located along the James River in Charles City County; and

WHEREAS, the Howards raised their six children, a daughter and five sons, on the family farm with the philosophy that Mapsico was foremost a "training field for living," which built character and provided a wealth of experiences; and

WHEREAS, Mapsico is a superb model of the multiple-use management system, with the Howard's productive tree farm providing both timber and forest products for profit and a recreational wonderland; and

WHEREAS, visitors to Mapsico enjoy the farm's vast natural beauty and abundant wildlife and experience all of God's wondrous creation; and

WHEREAS, for many years, Doc and Jeannette Howard have graciously offered Mapsico as the site for countless activities, such as spiritual retreats, archaeology finds, dog field trials, and ecological programs; and

WHEREAS, because of their hard work and commitment to tree farming and sustainable forestry, Doc and Jeannette Howard have been honored with numerous awards and accolades over the years, including the 1996 Virginia Outstanding Tree Farmers by the Virginia Forestry Association and the 1997 National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year by the American Forest Foundation; and

WHEREAS, an enthusiastic advocate for sustainable forestry, Doc Howard has visited the General Assembly in Richmond and the Capitol in Washington, D. C., on several occasions to help increase public awareness and promote public policies that encourage forest management and safeguard the environment; and

WHEREAS, as steadfast stewards of Virginia's natural resources, Doc and Jeannette Howard have conducted countless educational talks and guided tours for citizens and provided scientists with the opportunity to study Mapsico's ecosystem to promote better forest management practices in Virginia; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Dr. Farrar W. Howard for his valuable contributions to ecological education and conservation in Virginia; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Dr. Farrar W. Howard for his outstanding service to the citizens of the Commonwealth.