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2012 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 203
Commending the Honorable Lacey E. Putney.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 18, 2012
Agreed to by the Senate, January 26, 2012

 

WHEREAS, the Honorable Lacey E. Putney, the longest-serving member of the General Assembly and one of the longest-serving state legislators in the United States, has made an indelible mark on the Commonwealth over the past 50 years while representing the residents of the 19th District; and

WHEREAS, a native of Big Island, Bedford County, Lacey Putney graduated from M.E. Marcuse High School and attended Washington and Lee University, where his classmates included Senator John Warner, Roger Mudd, Pat Robertson, and Tom Wolfe; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from Washington and Lee University, Lacey Putney rendered honorable service to his country as a member of the United States Air Force from 1950 to 1954, after which, he returned to his alma mater and earned a law degree; and

WHEREAS, Lacey Putney started his own law practice in Bedford, where he was joined by his brother, Macon, and secretary and later legislative assistant, Betty Lou Layne, and has provided expert legal guidance to his clients for the past 50 years; and

WHEREAS, in 1961 Lacey Putney was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates and today represents the Cities of Bedford and Covington and all or part of the Counties of Alleghany, Bedford, and Botetourt; and

WHEREAS, Delegate Putney joined the Virginia House of Delegates when the population of the Commonwealth was half of what it is today, the General Assembly met every two years for 60 days, and members had no offices or computers and waited in line to use phone booths on the first floor of the Capitol; and

WHEREAS, Delegate Putney has witnessed many changes in state government over the past half century and has played a pivotal role in the passage of numerous important legislative initiatives to benefit the citizens of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Delegate Putney patroned legislation to create the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant Program, encouraged the use of a six-year capital outlay planning process to help maintain the Commonwealth’s coveted Triple A credit rating and, known as the guardian of the Virginia Retirement System, championed pension reform in the 1990s; and

WHEREAS, Delegate Putney has given valuable insight as a member of the Rules and Privileges and Elections Committees and as Speaker of the House from June 2002 to January 2003, he provided firm and steady leadership to the House of Delegates; and

WHEREAS, as founder, former chair, and now member of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, Delegate Putney has worked to ensure that state government operates in the most efficient and effective manner possible for the taxpayers of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, a seasoned legislator, Delegate Putney has been a powerful voice for fiscal conservatism and responsible stewardship of the Commonwealth’s financial resources as chair of the House Appropriations Committee; and

WHEREAS, as the Commonwealth and nation have faced lean economic times, Delegate Putney has labored long hours alongside fellow legislators, state government officials, and legislative staff to make difficult decisions regarding the best use of state funds; and

WHEREAS, committed to the growth and prosperity of his district, Delegate Putney worked with local and state government officials and business leaders to bring businesses and jobs to his constituency, notably through the expansion of Barr Laboratories in Bedford County; and

WHEREAS, as a native of Bedford County, Delegate Putney has a deep appreciation for his district’s many contributions to the Commonwealth and nation, serving as a trusted advocate for the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford and supporting numerous cultural and historical preservation efforts; and

WHEREAS, Delegate Putney has served his community and profession in numerous capacities over the years, including as trustee of the Patrick Henry Boys & Girls Plantation, former director of the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce, former president of the Bedford Bar Association, and member of the Masons, Scottish Rite, and American Legion; and

WHEREAS, Delegate Putney has garnered numerous awards and accolades over the course of his distinguished career, including twice being named Legislator of the Year by the Virginia Governmental Employees Association and receiving a Distinguished Service Award from Virginia Military Institute, the Distinguished Alumni Award from Washington and Lee University, and the Thomas B. Murphy Longevity of Service Award for 45 Years of Distinguished Service in the Virginia General Assembly from the Southern Legislative Conference; and

WHEREAS, Delegate Putney’s family have been stalwart supporters of his efforts to serve the 19th District and the Commonwealth; the widower of Elizabeth Harlow Putney, he married the former Carmela Bills in 2007 and has two children, Susan Powers and L. Edward Putney, Jr.; and

WHEREAS, proud to be a member of the oldest continuous lawmaking body in the New World, Delegate Putney has worked to preserve the integrity and collegiality of this noble and historic body throughout his illustrious career; and

WHEREAS, Delegate Putney has worked alongside countless legislative staff and fellow members over the years, developing a reputation as a straight talker whose familiar sayings or “Putneyisms” have provided insight into the legislative process and humor; and

WHEREAS, a model legislator, Delegate Putney’s name will forever remain in the annals of Virginia history, not only for his longevity of service but for his unwavering commitment to his constituents and the residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Honorable Lacey E. Putney on the occasion of his 50th anniversary of service as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Honorable Lacey E. Putney as an expression of the General Assembly’s congratulations and profound admiration and appreciation for his extraordinary service and contributions to the 19th District and the Commonwealth.