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2012 SESSION

12105985D
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 71
Offered March 8, 2012
Commending Dr. William M. Kelso.
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Patrons-- Pogge, Watson, Albo, Alexander, Anderson, BaCote, Bell, Richard P., Brink, Bulova, Byron, Carr, Cline, Cole, Comstock, Cosgrove, Cox, J.A., Cox, M.K., Crockett-Stark, Dance, Dudenhefer, Edmunds, Englin, Fariss, Farrell, Filler-Corn, Garrett, Gilbert, Habeeb, Head, Helsel, Herring, Hodges, Hope, Howell, A.T., Howell, W.J., Hugo, Iaquinto, Ingram, James, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, Keam, Kilgore, Knight, Kory, Landes, LeMunyon, Lewis, Lingamfelter, Lopez, Loupassi, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., Massie, May, McClellan, McQuinn, Merricks, Miller, Minchew, Morefield, Morris, Morrissey, O'Bannon, O'Quinn, Orrock, Peace, Plum, Poindexter, Purkey, Putney, Ramadan, Ransone, Robinson, Rush, Rust, Scott, E.T., Scott, J.M., Sherwood, Sickles, Spruill, Stolle, Surovell, Tata, Torian, Toscano, Tyler, Villanueva, Ward, Ware, O., Ware, R.L., Watts, Webert, Wilt, Wright, Yancey and Yost
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WHEREAS, Dr. William M. Kelso, Director of Archaeology for Preservation Virginia, the manager of Historic Jamestowne, will be named an Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, one of Britain’s highest honors, the CBE is bestowed in recognition of distinguished achievement in a recipient’s specific area of expertise; and

WHEREAS, a respected scholar, William Kelso earned a bachelor’s degree from Baldwin-Wallace College, which later awarded him an honorary doctorate; a master’s degree from The College of William & Mary; and a doctorate from Emory University; and

WHEREAS, one of the most prominent British-American Colonial archaeologists, Dr. Kelso has made enormous contributions to the preservation and understanding of the Commonwealth’s and nation’s origins; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kelso served as commissioner of archaeology for the Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission and director of field archaeology for Colonial Williamsburg, Monticello, and Poplar Forest before joining what is now known as Preservation Virginia in 1993; and

WHEREAS, as director of the Jamestown Rediscovery Archaeological Project, Dr. Kelso has overseen the painstaking archaeological efforts that have resulted in monumental discoveries that provide insight and information about life for early settlers; and

WHEREAS, under the leadership of Dr. Kelso, the locations of the original 1607 James Fort and the 1608 church that served as the wedding site for Pocahontas and John Rolfe have been determined, while 1.4 million artifacts, including significant human remains, have been excavated; and

WHEREAS, the archaeological site includes other buildings, the later statehouse, and a Confederate fort, which highlight the significance of the site throughout American history; and

WHEREAS, committed to broadening the understanding of the importance of this historic area, Dr. Kelso oversees program interpretation at Historic Jamestowne and works in conjunction with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation to seek recognition for the Historic Triangle of Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown; and

WHEREAS, a lecturer and author, Dr. Kelso has also garnered numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including designation by the Virginia Press Association as the Virginian of the Year, election as a Fellow to the Society of Antiquaries of London, and selection by the Society for Historical Archaeology for its prestigious J.C. Harrington Medal; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kelso’s remarkable contributions to his field have resulted in a vastly increased body of knowledge about the origins of the nation and how its first English-speaking settlers lived, carrying on traditions from the Old World while forging a democracy on the shores of the James River that now serves as a model around the world; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Dr. William M. Kelso hereby be commended on being named an Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE); and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Dr. William M. Kelso as an expression of the House of Delegates’ congratulations and deep appreciation and admiration for his efforts to locate and preserve artifacts that tell the story of the Commonwealth’s and nation’s history.