SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2013 SESSION

13104384D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 778
Offered January 28, 2013
Commending J. R. Burgess.
----------
Patron-- Fariss
----------

WHEREAS, J. R. Burgess, a former town council member and mayor of the Town of Altavista, completed 40 years of dedicated, exceptional service on December 31, 2012; and

WHEREAS, a lifetime resident of the Town of Altavista, J. R. “Rudy” Burgess holds a deep love for the area and never considered living anywhere else; and

WHEREAS, watching the Town of Altavista grow over the years, Rudy Burgess safeguarded the community as a member of the local fire department for two decades; and

WHEREAS, hoping to contribute more fully to the community he loved, Rudy Burgess ran for the Altavista Town Council with the encouragement of a former mayor; and

WHEREAS, friends with many people in the Town of Altavista, Rudy Burgess knew the issues that concerned his fellow residents and how to talk about those issues; and

WHEREAS, with no formal campaign staff, Rudy Burgess recruited his family to help him knock on doors and call voters; and

WHEREAS, Rudy Burgess’ grassroots campaign was extremely successful and he was elected to the town council in 1972 and mayor in 1988; and

WHEREAS, known as a uniting force on the council, Rudy Burgess valued common sense and built consensus to ensure that town operations were conducted smoothly; and

WHEREAS, Rudy Burgess was an active leader and served on several committees, boards, and commissions, including the Region 2000 Local Government Council, of which he was the chair for several terms; and

WHEREAS, Rudy Burgess supported many projects to enhance the Town of Altavista, including utility plant expansions, the construction of a new town hall, and the Downtown Streetscape and Infrastructure improvements; and

WHEREAS, demonstrating his unyielding commitment to the people of Altavista, Rudy Burgess continued to serve as mayor during a courageous eight-year struggle with cancer; and

WHEREAS, Rudy Burgess supported the American Cancer Society Relay for Life at Altavista Combined School in 2012 with his devoted wife, Lucy, who is also a cancer survivor; and

WHEREAS, to recognize Rudy Burgess’ many accomplishments in service to the Town of Altavista, officials renamed the town hall in his honor in 2010; and

WHEREAS, planning to remain in the Town of Altavista, Rudy Burgess will continue to be an asset to future mayors and council members; his legacy of service will ensure that the town continues to grow for years to come; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend J. R. Burgess on completing his 40-year service as a council member and mayor of the Town of Altavista; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to J. R. Burgess as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration and respect for his four decades of outstanding leadership of the Town of Altavista.