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2016 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 158
Celebrating the life of the Honorable Thomas W. Moss, Jr.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 29, 2016
Agreed to by the Senate, February 4, 2016

 

WHEREAS, the Honorable Thomas W. Moss, Jr., a distinguished community leader, attorney, and public servant who represented the people of the City of Norfolk in the Virginia House of Delegates as a former Speaker of the House, died on November 26, 2015; and

WHEREAS, a lifelong resident of Norfolk, Thomas Moss graduated from Granby High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; he honorably served his country as a member of the United States Army during the Korean War; and

WHEREAS, after returning home, Thomas Moss earned a law degree from the University of Richmond and served the community as an attorney in private practice in Norfolk for many years; and

WHEREAS, desirous to be of further service to the Commonwealth, Thomas Moss ran for and was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates and served from 1966 to 2000; he became House Majority Leader, and he was elected Speaker of the House in 1991; and

WHEREAS, over the course of his career, Thomas Moss ably represented the residents of the 88th District; he enacted numerous important pieces of legislation and offered his wisdom and leadership to several committees; and

WHEREAS, after retiring from state government in 2001, Thomas Moss was elected treasurer of the City of Norfolk and served in that capacity for more than a decade; and

WHEREAS, an active member of the Norfolk community, Thomas Moss served as a past president of the Young Democratic Club of Norfolk and the Tidewater Chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association and a former crusade chairman for the American Cancer Society; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Moss earned many awards and accolades for his good work, including the German Club Alumni Foundation Distinguished Achievement Award; the downtown campus of Tidewater Community College and a research building at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University are named in his honor; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Moss lived his deep and abiding faith through his actions, and he enjoyed fellowship and worship with the community as a lifelong member of First Lutheran Church of Norfolk; and

WHEREAS, a man of great integrity, Thomas Moss served the Norfolk community and the Commonwealth with the utmost professionalism, dedication, and distinction; and

WHEREAS, predeceased by one daughter, Susan, Thomas Moss will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his devoted wife, Norma Jean; children, Elizabeth, Thomas III, and Joey, and their families; and numerous other family members, friends, and colleagues; 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 the Honorable Thomas W. Moss, Jr., a respected attorney, accomplished public servant, and devoted community leader in Norfolk; 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 Thomas W. Moss, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.