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2016 SESSION

16105895D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 471
Offered March 7, 2016
Celebrating the life of Hilton T. Douglas.
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Patrons-- Marshall, D.W. and Adams; Senators: Ruff and Stanley
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WHEREAS, Hilton T. Douglas, a respected member of the Danville community who honorably served the Commonwealth and the United States as a member of the United States Army during three major wars, died on September 14, 2015; and

WHEREAS, a native of Sutherlin, Hilton Douglas joined many of the other young men of his generation in service to the nation during World War II; he courageously enlisted in the United States Army in 1943, after he was turned down by the draft board because his three brothers had already been called into service; and

WHEREAS, Hilton Douglas served with the 444th Engineer Base Depot Company in England until his honorable discharge in 1946; he reenlisted in 1948 and was stationed in Japan; and

WHEREAS, during the Korean War, Hilton Douglas served with the First Cavalry Division and was stationed near the 38th Parallel on the border between North and South Korea; and

WHEREAS, after returning home from Korea, Hilton Douglas was assigned to headquarters at Fort Devens in Massachusetts, where he established a lifelong friendship with Colin Powell, who would go on to become U.S. Secretary of State, and helped activate and train the 196th Light Infantry Brigade; he was promoted to sergeant major before being deployed to Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, Hilton Douglas earned many citations and decorations for his valorous service during the Vietnam War, including the Army Commendation Medal and the Bronze Star Medal; he retired from military service in 1967 as a command sergeant major; and

WHEREAS, Hilton Douglas returned to Southside Virginia and was an active member of the Danville community for many years, retiring as an employee of Smith-Douglass Fertilizer Company; and

WHEREAS, a talented gardener, Hilton Douglas planted a beautiful rose garden for his wife and earned accolades from the Garden Club of Virginia Rose Show; he posthumously won a third-place ribbon at the 2015 show for one of his red roses called Veteran’s Honor; and

WHEREAS, Hilton Douglas enjoyed fellowship and worship with the community as a member of First Baptist Church in Danville; and

WHEREAS, Hilton Douglas will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife of 69 years, Eleanor; daughters, Joan, Sylvia, and Laura, and their families; and numerous other family members and friends; 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 Hilton T. Douglas, a decorated veteran and an admired member of the Danville community; 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 Hilton T. Douglas as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.