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2012 SESSION


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 31
Commending the Honorable Peter G. Decker, Jr.
 
Agreed to by the Senate, January 19, 2012
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 27, 2012
 

WHEREAS, the Honorable Peter G. Decker, Jr., was honored for his outstanding contributions to the field of criminal justice in the Commonwealth with the inaugural Virginia Sheriffs’ Association Citizen of the Year award in 2011; and

WHEREAS, a successful attorney and businessman, Peter Decker serves as a substitute judge for the District Court of the City of Norfolk and as chair of the Virginia Board of Corrections, where he provides wise counsel and direction for this essential function of state government; and

WHEREAS, Peter Decker, whose father was a Lebanese immigrant and whose mother was a first generation American, grew up alongside his six siblings in the Lamberts Point area of Norfolk, briefly leaving the area to receive a bachelor’s degree and law degree from The College of William and Mary; and

WHEREAS, a gifted singer, Peter Decker performed in nightclubs to help pay for law school, eventually meeting the famous actor and singer Danny Thomas, who later asked him to lead fundraising efforts in the Tidewater area for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; and

WHEREAS, over the decades, Peter Decker has raised over $50 million for the hospital, while also generously supporting numerous other charitable organizations in the region; and

WHEREAS, a cancer survivor, Peter Decker has shared his story with others in an effort to raise awareness of the disease and encourage support of the American Cancer Society and its signature fundraising event, Relay for Life, held in communities across the Commonwealth and nation; and

WHEREAS, a visionary leader who believes in giving back to his hometown, Peter Decker helped create Norfolk’s Downtown Improvement District, served on the Norfolk Airport Authority’s board, and currently provides thoughtful guidance as a member of Norfolk State University’s board of visitors and as a member on the board of Nauticus; and

WHEREAS, for many years, Peter Decker has graciously given of his time and energies in service to the Commonwealth and its citizens as a member of various state entities, sharing his wealth of experience and expertise and influencing the lives of Virginians; and

WHEREAS, supported in all of his many endeavors by his beloved wife, Bess, and children, Peter III, Paul, and Phil, and their families, Peter Decker has received numerous awards and accolades for his many contributions and is a worthy recipient of the 2011 Virginia Sheriffs’ Association Citizen of the Year award; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Honorable Peter G. Decker, Jr., on his selection as the 2011 Virginia Sheriffs’ Association Citizen of the Year award winner; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Honorable Peter G. Decker, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly’s congratulations and deep admiration and gratitude for his distinguished service to the City of Norfolk and the Commonwealth.