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2012 SESSION

12100259D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 244
Offered March 5, 2012
Celebrating the life of Randolph Cooper Kendall, Jr.
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Patrons-- Edwards and Marsh
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WHEREAS, Randolph Cooper Kendall, Jr., president emeritus of the Urban League of Greater Richmond, was born on December 30, 1932, in Atlanta, and passed from this life on October 24, 2011; and

WHEREAS, Randolph Cooper Kendall, Jr., attended public schools in Atlanta and earned his undergraduate degree at Clark-Atlanta University; he received the master of social work degree in 1958 from Atlanta University; and

WHEREAS, Randolph Cooper Kendall, Jr., devoted his entire professional career to the Urban League, working for branches in Tampa, St. Louis, and Oklahoma City before coming to Richmond in 1968 as chief executive officer and president of the Urban League of Greater Richmond; and

WHEREAS, an affable and genuine soul, Randolph Cooper Kendall, Jr., worked exceedingly well with everyone; a realist, he was determined to serve the entire community and pursued a positive approach to identifying and addressing poverty in Richmond and the problems of the poor; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure as president, Randolph Cooper Kendall, Jr., expanded the Urban League of Greater Richmond, opening a second office on the city’s Southside; he worked to ensure the availability of affordable housing, initiated a program to educate lower-income families concerning the responsibilities and realities of purchasing a home, started an apprenticeship project aimed at providing technical skills to Richmond high school students, and assisted in the development of an annual seminar with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to educate employers and prospective employees regarding their rights and responsibilities; and

WHEREAS, Randolph Cooper Kendall, Jr., labored tirelessly and was dedicated to ensuring progressive change and successful outcomes to improve the quality of life for Richmond’s citizens; modest and humble, he encouraged employees and kept them involved in the work of the organization; he credited the Urban League and his staff for the success of projects and endeavors, and his staff said of him, “he was the kind of boss everyone wants”; he retired from the Urban League of Greater Richmond in 1997, after 29 years of loyal and dedicated service; and

WHEREAS, Randolph Cooper Kendall, Jr., was passionate about vintage cars; he was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and a longtime member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, where he served as chairman of the administrative board, as a member of the finance committee and United Methodist Men, and as a delegate to the Virginia Annual Conference, United Methodist Church; and

WHEREAS, Randolph Cooper Kendall, Jr., will be remembered fondly by family, friends, employees, and associates for his unassuming ways, kindness, thoughtfulness, spirit of service, and commitment to the people of Richmond; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Randolph Cooper Kendall, Jr.; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Randolph Cooper Kendall, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.