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2013 SESSION

13104978D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 434
Offered February 18, 2013
Commending Herbert V. Coulton, Sr.
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Patrons-- Marsh; Delegates: Dance, Fariss, Howell, A.T., McQuinn and Tyler
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WHEREAS, Herbert V. Coulton, Sr., a native of Petersburg, attended Blandford Elementary School and Peabody High School, and graduated from Virginia State University; and

WHEREAS, Herbert V. Coulton, Sr., dutifully and valiantly served his country in the United States Army from 1957 to 1959, and was discharged from his service with honor; and

WHEREAS, after his return from military duty, he became an active participant in the Petersburg community; Herbert V. Coulton, Sr., contributes his time and resources to membership in the First Baptist Church of Petersburg, the oldest African American Baptist church in America, where he serves as Sunday school teacher, chairman of the board of trustees, business manager, member of the Male Chorus and chairman of the Cathedral Choir, corresponding secretary of the human relations committee, and member of the James H. Threatt Memorial Men's Club; and

WHEREAS, prior to his retirement from the Life of Virginia Insurance Company in 1992, Herbert V. Coulton, Sr., was employed at Central State Hospital, and later worked in various positions for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) from 1959 to 1978; and

WHEREAS, after having experienced the indignities and injustices of racial discrimination, Herbert V. Coulton, Sr., became one of the foot soldiers in the Civil Rights Movement, working as a field secretary for the SCLC in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Herbert V. Coulton, Sr., worked tirelessly in the area of voter education and registration in Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee; he and his wife were first to desegregate Peterburg's Bluebird Theater; and

WHEREAS, Herbert V. Coulton, Sr., has received many honors, awards, and accolades for his outstanding community service, including the SCLC M.L.K., Jr. Award in 1994; the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. M.L. King, Jr., Legacy Award in 1994; the Petersburg High School Appreciation in the Area of Civil Rights Award in 1995; the Lifelong Dedication to the Struggle Award by the U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee Black Empowerment Program Committee in 1997; appointment to the Virginia Council on Human Rights by Governor L. Douglas Wilder in 1998; the SCLC's Norfolk Chapter Community Action Award for Continued Work in the Struggle for Freedom in 2000; and a cameo appearance in the movie, The Vernon Johns Story, among many other honors; and

WHEREAS, through the efforts and fearless, faithful, and dedicated service of Herbert V. Coulton, Sr., African American voting power in Petersburg expanded exponentially during the 1960s, and his work is credited with bringing African Americans into political leadership positions after 1966; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Herbert V. Coulton, Sr.; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Herbert V. Coulton, Sr., as an expression of the General Assembly's heartfelt appreciation for his outstanding service to the Commonwealth.