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2013 SESSION

13100025D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 577
Offered January 9, 2013
Prefiled December 20, 2012
Celebrating the life of the Honorable William Creed Wampler, Sr.
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Patron-- O'Quinn, Albo, Anderson, BaCote, Bell, Richard P., Bell, Robert B., Brink, Bulova, Byron, Carr, Cline, Cole, Comstock, Cosgrove, Cox, J.A., Cox, M.K., Crockett-Stark, Dance, Dudenhefer, Edmunds, Fariss, Farrell, Filler-Corn, Garrett, Gilbert, Greason, Habeeb, Head, Helsel, Herring, Hester, Hodges, Hope, Howell, A.T., Howell, W.J., Hugo, Iaquinto, Ingram, James, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, Keam, Kilgore, Knight, Kory, Krupicka, Landes, LeMunyon, Lewis, Lingamfelter, Lopez, Loupassi, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., Massie, May, McClellan, McQuinn, Merricks, Miller, Minchew, Morefield, Morris, Morrissey, O'Bannon, Orrock, Peace, Plum, Pogge, 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., Watson, Watts, Webert, Wilt, Wright, Yancey and Yost; Senators: Alexander, Barker, Black, Blevins, Carrico, Colgan, Deeds, Ebbin, Edwards, Favola, Garrett, Hanger, Herring, Howell, Locke, Lucas, Marsden, Marsh, Martin, McDougle, McEachin, McWaters, Miller, Newman, Norment, Northam, Obenshain, Petersen, Puckett, Puller, Reeves, Ruff, Saslaw, Smith, Stanley, Stosch, Stuart, Vogel, Wagner, and Watkins
 

WHEREAS, the Honorable William Creed Wampler, Sr., who proudly served the “Fightin’ 9th” congressional district from 1952 to 1954 and 1966 to 1982, died on May 23, 2012; and

WHEREAS, a native of Pennington Gap, William “Bill” Wampler moved with his family to Bristol as a young boy and attended Virginia High School, where he took great pride in being elected class president all four years; and

WHEREAS, Bill Wampler enlisted in the United States Navy and served as a seaman during World War II before earning a bachelor’s degree, from what was then known as Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and studying law at the University of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, a rising star in the Republican Party, Bill Wampler served as the president of the Young Republican Federation of Virginia and as the keynote speaker and permanent chair of the 9th District Republican Convention in his mid-twenties, winning election to the 83rd Congress as its youngest member when he was just 26; and

WHEREAS, after his first term of service, Bill Wampler worked for the United States Atomic Energy Commission before returning home to help with the family business, serving first as vice president and general manager of Wampler Brothers Furniture and then Wampler Brothers Carpet Company; and

WHEREAS, in 1967 Bill Wampler returned to Capitol Hill as the 9th Congressional District’s representative, earning the respect of his colleagues and support of his constituents, who elected him to seven consecutive terms of Congress; and

WHEREAS, fondly known as the “Bald Eagle of the Cumberlands,” Bill Wampler faithfully served the residents of the “Fightin’ 9th” throughout his tenure, devoting countless hours to traveling the winding roads of Southwest Virginia to meet with constituents and hear their concerns; and

WHEREAS, Bill Wampler served with six presidents and worked with other congressional leaders to champion a wide array of legislation for the benefit of Southwest Virginia and all Americans, voting for black lung benefits for coal miners and for the implementation of the first food stamp program; and

WHEREAS, the highest-ranking Republican on the House Agriculture Committee, Bill Wampler also served on the Committee on Aging and the Committee on Committees, providing wise insight and guidance during his long tenure; and

WHEREAS, a strong advocate for education, Bill Wampler served on the boards of visitors of Virginia Tech and Emory & Henry College, receiving the Alumni Distinguished Service Award from Virginia Tech’s Alumni Association in 1980 and an honorary doctorate from Lincoln Memorial University; and

WHEREAS, an extraordinarily popular and effective public servant, Bill Wampler touched the lives of countless individuals while fighting for commonsense solutions to help all Virginians and Americans; and

WHEREAS, Bill Wampler will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Lee; children, Barbara, William, Katherine, and David, 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 dedicated public servant and admired Virginian, the Honorable William Creed Wampler, Sr.; 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 the Honorable William Creed Wampler, Sr., as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.