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2010 SESSION


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 133
Commending Thomas Martin Oliver.
 
Agreed to by the Senate, January 28, 2010
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 12, 2010
 

WHEREAS, Thomas Martin Oliver, an illustrious educator, coach, and athletic director in the Chesapeake Public Schools, retired after 47 years of dedicated service; and

WHEREAS, a graduate of Old Dominion University, Martin Oliver began his career teaching social studies and government at Great Bridge High School in 1964; and

WHEREAS, Martin Oliver spent the next 32 years at Great Bridge High School, where he served as head junior varsity football coach for 14 years, head baseball coach for 31 years, and head basketball coach for 28 years; and

WHEREAS, Martin Oliver spent the last 13 years as a government and driver’s education teacher and athletic director at Hickory High School, which was built in 1996; an exemplary administrator and leader, he started the athletic program at Hickory High School from the ground up; and

WHEREAS, actively involved in his profession, Martin Oliver was a member of the Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association for 13 years and served as treasurer and chairman of the Southeastern District; and

WHEREAS, Martin Oliver also served as chairman of the Southeastern Athletic Directors Association for eight years and director of the Southeastern District basketball and cheerleading tournaments; and

WHEREAS, Martin Oliver frequently went above and beyond his duty as a coach and teacher; when he saw the need for support of Great Bridge High School’s athletic program he became an original member of the Wildcat Alliance, a group of former athletes and coaches at Great Bridge High School that raises money to make improvements to Great Bridge High School’s athletic program; and

WHEREAS, Martin Oliver has received many accolades and honors for his outstanding commitment to his students and athletes; he was selected as the Teacher of the Year at Great Bridge High School, and the baseball field at Great Bridge High School is named in his honor, the T. Martin Oliver Field of Dreams; and

WHEREAS, Martin Oliver’s hard work and commitment are best seen in the lives of the students and athletes he guided, taught, mentored, and coached over the years; and

WHEREAS, Martin Oliver has worked diligently to instill the qualities of good sportsmanship and integrity in the athletes of Hickory High School; the school was one of only four high schools in Chesapeake to win the Wachovia Sportsmanship award in 2007; and

WHEREAS, many of his students and coaches have excelled in their respective sports, including current Minnesota Twin Mike Cuddyer and New York Met David Wright; and

WHEREAS, Martin Oliver has had a long, successful, and rewarding career working with the youth of the Chesapeake Public Schools; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly commend a beloved educator, coach, and athletic director and outstanding Virginian, Thomas Martin Oliver; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Thomas Martin Oliver as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect and admiration for his decades of service to the Chesapeake Public Schools and best wishes in his future endeavors.