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2015 SESSION

15103405D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 353
Offered February 12, 2015
Commending Cabell F. Willis.
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Patrons-- Martin; Delegate: Robinson
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WHEREAS, Cabell F. Willis, of the Virginia Military Institute Class of 2014, was named a Capital One Academic All-American and All-District athlete for 2013–2014, earning the Institute a place on the Capital One Academic All-American first team; and

WHEREAS, in June 2014, the Virginia Military Institute (V.M.I.) was ranked 14th in the nation in NCAA Division I track and field and cross country by the College Sports Information Directors of America as a result of the dedication and hard work of Cabell Willis; and

WHEREAS, Cabell Willis earned honors as an Academic All-American athlete for the second consecutive year, adding to his four track and field trophies awarded for Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year with a fifth for cross country, and eight NCAA All-Academic Conference medals for the highest athlete GPA, highlighting V.M.I.’s standards for academics and athletics; and

WHEREAS, Cabell Willis was elected the distance team captain in April 2012, serving for two years as cadre for matriculating team members, as a 1st Battalion regimental staff sergeant, and as a lieutenant, providing academic support and intellectual leadership to the Corps of Cadets; and

WHEREAS, as a recipient of the Jacobs Sportsmanship Award in 2010, Cabell Willis used his experience to encourage V.M.I.’s cross country team to place the honor of the Corps of Cadets above self, helping the team win the NCAA Conference men’s Cross Country Sportsmanship Award; he also earned the Frank A. Liddell, Jr., Silver V.M.I. Chalice for Excellence in Cross Country Leadership in 2013 and contributed to V.M.I.’s 2013–2014 Big South Institutional Sportsmanship Award; and

WHEREAS, Cabell Willis graduated from V.M.I. on May 16, 2014, with distinction and Institute honors; he was second in his class of 291 cadets of the 501 that matriculated in 2010, committing himself to the vindication of Virginia’s honor and the defense of its rights; and

WHEREAS, on May 14, 2014, General J. H. Binford Peay III, superintendent of V.M.I., presented Cabell Willis with the Lt. Randolph T. Townsend V.M.I. Gold Medal for the top graduate in history, the Institute Honors Thesis Award for the most outstanding thesis of a graduating cadet, and the Wilbur S. Hinman, Jr., Research Award for excellence in conducting research; and

WHEREAS, on May 16, 2014, the superintendent of V.M.I. presented Cabell Willis with the second Jackson-Hope Medal for earning a cumulative GPA of 3.979, the second-highest attainment in scholarship, accompanied by the Colonel Sterling Murray Heflin 1916 Academic Proficiency Award; and

WHEREAS, Cabell Willis has brought great honor to the Commonwealth on a national level, and his performance is a reflection of the superintendent’s leadership and the efforts of faculty and staff at V.M.I. to encourage students to contribute and excel beyond physical or mental abilities, while developing good character and maintaining integrity; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Cabell F. Willis for earning first-team honors from Capital One as an Academic All-American and All-District track and field and cross country athlete; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Cabell F. Willis as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his accomplishments as an athlete and leader at the Virginia Military Institute.