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2009 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 659
Celebrating the life of the Honorable Andrew Jackson Ellis, Jr.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 16, 2009
Agreed to by the Senate, January 22, 2009

 

WHEREAS, the Honorable Andrew Jackson Ellis, Jr., of Broomfield Farm in Beaverdam, a respected citizen, attorney, and judge for the 15th Judicial Circuit of Virginia, died on October 12, 2008; and

WHEREAS, an Ashland native, Andrew Jackson "Jack" Ellis followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming a lawyer, earning a bachelor's degree and law degree from Washington and Lee University; and

WHEREAS, fluent in French, Jack Ellis served his country in the United States Army Judge Advocate Corps stationed in France; and

WHEREAS, after his time in the military, Jack Ellis practiced law in Ashland and soon became a partner in the law firm of Campbell, Ellis and Campbell, where he practiced general law until 1970; and

WHEREAS, Jack Ellis served as a member of the Ashland Town Council, as mayor from 1958 to 1963, and as commonwealth's attorney for Hanover County from 1963 to 1970; and

WHEREAS, in 1970 Jack Ellis became county attorney for Hanover County and joined the Richmond law firm of Mays & Valentine, L.L.P., retiring as a partner in 1996; and

WHEREAS, Jack Ellis served as an interim judge for the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit of Virginia from 1996 to 1998, and he continued as a substitute judge for the Court, as well as for the General District Court, from 1998 to 2008; and

WHEREAS, Judge Ellis felt strongly about "tradition, formality, and respectful demeanor in his court," and he was "very particular about enforcing the laws and making sure due process was applied"; and

WHEREAS, dedicated to excellence in the legal profession, Judge Ellis was elected a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and was an active member and leader in numerous local, state, and national professional associations; and

WHEREAS, over the years, Judge Ellis generously gave his time and expertise to many civic organizations, serving as a member and president of the Ashland Chamber of Commerce; as a board member for First & Merchants National Bank, Nations Bank and J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College; and as a member of the Ashland Kiwanis Club and the Sons of the American Revolution; and

WHEREAS, Judge Ellis was a faithful member of Fork Episcopal Church in Doswell and was active in the church's many missions in the community; and

WHEREAS, a compassionate man who respected the environment and loved the outdoors, Judge Ellis enjoyed working on his Black Angus cattle farm and hunting quail with the Irish Setters he raised; and

WHEREAS, a devoted family man, Judge Ellis will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife of 54 years, Dorothy Lichliter Ellis; his three children, Elizabeth Ellis Attkisson, Andrew "Ace" Ellis and William "Bill" Ellis and their wonderful families, including his six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and his numerous friends and admirers; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a fine jurist and outstanding Virginian, the Honorable Andrew Jackson Ellis, Jr.; 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 Andrew Jackson Ellis, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.