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2011 SESSION

11104265D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 771
Offered January 31, 2011
Celebrating the life of Henry W. Hicks.
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Patron-- Wright
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WHEREAS, Henry W. Hicks, the admired Brunswick County stewmaster who shared his love of Brunswick stew with residents across the Commonwealth, died on November 1, 2010; and

WHEREAS, a native of Brunswick County and educated in local public schools, Henry Hicks married Mary Berry in 1952 and the couple began to cook Brunswick stew in 1960; and

WHEREAS, for the next 50 years, Henry Hicks continued to cook Brunswick stew, refining his own distinctive recipe and becoming an expert stewmaster of the hearty regional favorite; and

WHEREAS, over the years, Henry Hicks cooked countless giant vats of the thick stew to help raise money for local churches, fire departments, and other civic organizations; and

WHEREAS, Henry Hicks was an active member of the Brunswick County Stewmasters Association, where he worked with other stewmasters to preserve and share the uniquely flavored stew; and

WHEREAS, over the years, Henry Hicks gained a formidable reputation as a stewmaster, cooking in August 2004 for reporters and others traveling with the Voices of Civil Rights tour; and

WHEREAS, Henry Hicks cooked stew for Brunswick Stew Day at the Virginia General Assembly in 2000, 2003, and 2008 and took great pride in cooking stew for all the members of the General Assembly and two of Virginia’s governors; and

WHEREAS, Henry Hicks received numerous awards for his Brunswick stew cooking; at the Taste of Brunswick Festival, he was named the international champion and the county champion three times; and

WHEREAS, a former heavy equipment operator at Vulcan Equipment for 20 years, Henry Hicks also dedicated his time and energy to serving others in the community as a Supreme International Mason and through his membership at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, where he served on the board of trustees; and

WHEREAS, a devoted family man, Henry Hicks will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife of 57 years, Mary; children, Calvin and John and their families; and numerous other family members, 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 a beloved Brunswick County stewmaster, Henry W. Hicks; 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 Henry W. Hicks as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.