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2013 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 639
Celebrating the life of Edward Bernard Strait.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 11, 2013
Agreed to by the Senate, January 17, 2013

 

WHEREAS, Edward Bernard Strait, whose contributions to civic life in the City of Falls Church earned him the nickname “Mr. Falls Church,” died on November 19, 2012; and

WHEREAS, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, Edward “Ed” Strait joined the other young men of his generation in the war effort, serving as a first lieutenant in the Pacific Theater during World War II; and

WHEREAS, after his honorable service, Ed Strait gained admittance to Columbia University, partly with an essay on the Athenian Creed and the importance of making contributions to society—a philosophy that would guide his life; and

WHEREAS, after earning a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Columbia University, Ed Strait worked briefly for the New York Times before relocating to Northern Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Ed Strait embarked on a successful career with the United States Bureau of the Budget, now known as the Office of Management and Budget, that would span nearly 40 years and end with his retirement as Deputy Chief of the International Affairs Division; and

WHEREAS, Ed Strait settled in the City of Falls Church in 1958 and dedicated himself to the well-being of the city and its residents with enthusiasm and a vision that would help the community as it transitioned from a small village to an urban city, with a host of services and amenities for residents and visitors; and

WHEREAS, shortly after relocating to the City of Falls Church, Ed Strait joined Citizens for a Better City, a nonpartisan group dedicated to ensuring quality candidates for local office, and held numerous offices over the years; and

WHEREAS, a three-term member on the city council, Ed Strait worked with fellow council members, local government officials, and local residents to ensure the efficient and effective operation of local government; and

WHEREAS, Ed Strait generously gave his time and talents to a number of City of Falls Church organizations, including the Falls Church Human Services Advisory Council, the Falls Church City Democratic Committee, and the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce, which awarded him the Carroll V. Shreve Award for community service; and

WHEREAS, Ed Strait took an active role in efforts to preserve the history of the City of Falls Church through his affiliation with the Falls Church Historical Commission, Falls Church Village Preservation and Improvement Society, Historic Falls Church, and other organizations; and

WHEREAS, Ed Strait represented the City of Falls Church on a number of regional organizations, such as the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments Human Resources Policy Committee, the Northern Virginia Planning District Commission, the United Way, and the Capital Area Food Bank; and

WHEREAS, Ed Strait was honored for his decades of dedicated community service that enriched the quality of life for the City of Falls Church residents with a Spirit of Falls Church Award from the Falls Church Village Preservation and Improvement Society and was the first recipient of the Citizens for a Better City’s Jane and Wayne Dexter Award for Meritorious Community Service; and

WHEREAS, a remarkable leader, Ed Strait leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of service to the City of Falls Church that others may strive to emulate; he will be greatly missed by his loving family and many 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 an admired civic leader, Edward Bernard Strait; 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 Edward Bernard Strait as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.