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2008 SESSION
WHEREAS, Helen L. Smith is a woman of many talents who has served her country and community with great enthusiasm and dedication as an artist, teacher, and volunteer; and
WHEREAS, a native of Richmond, Helen Smith graduated from John Marshall High School in 1940, where she was voted the school’s outstanding girl athlete; she lettered in field hockey, basketball, track, and tennis, the only sports available to girls then, and one year she won the city’s doubles tennis championship; and
WHEREAS, when the United States entered World War II, Helen Smith was compelled to do her part, and even though she was offered a contract to play in the newly formed All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1943, she decided instead to join the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, which became the Women’s Army Corps; and
WHEREAS, assigned to the Headquarters Company at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, Helen Smith worked in the publications department illustrating training charts and creating illustrations for the post newspaper; she was transferred to the Pentagon where she did top secret cartographic work related to the war effort against Japan, and she received a letter of commendation for this assignment; and
WHEREAS, after being honorably discharged from the Army in 1945 as a technical sergeant, Helen Smith attended the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, to study art; and
WHEREAS, while she was in the Army and in college, Helen Smith continued to play softball, and in 1947 she finally joined the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, playing the 1947 season with the Kenosha Comets and the 1948 season with the Grand Rapids Chicks; and
WHEREAS, Helen Smith returned to Richmond when her mother became ill and completed her studies at what is now Virginia Commonwealth University in 1950, earning a bachelor of fine arts degree with an emphasis on helping emotionally disturbed children; she went on to teach art and shop classes for over 30 years throughout the Richmond area; and
WHEREAS, since retiring from teaching, Helen Smith has been involved in many activities and has been particularly engaged with the United States Army Women’s Foundation and the United States Army Women’s Museum, both at Fort Lee; in 2003 she was appointed to the Foundation’s board of directors and serves on its audit and internal review committee; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Helen L. Smith for her selfless service to her country and community; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Helen L. Smith as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect and admiration for her devotion to country and her commitment to the arts and teaching.