SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2020 SESSION


HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 28
Celebrating the life of the Honorable George William Vakos.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 27, 2020

 

WHEREAS, the Honorable George William Vakos, a respected civic leader who played an instrumental role in the reorganization of the City of Virginia Beach after its merger with Princess Anne County and a former judge of the Virginia Beach General District Court and the Virginia Beach Circuit Court, died on February 22, 2019; and

WHEREAS, George Vakos learned the importance of hard work and responsibility at a young age while working in his father’s restaurants and hotels; he remained involved with his family’s businesses throughout his life and strove to instill those values in his own children and grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, a graduate of Maury High School and The College of William & Mary, George Vakos served his country as a member of the United States Navy during the Korean War, then completed his education with a law degree from George Washington University; and

WHEREAS, in 1960, George Vakos was appointed as assistant city attorney of Virginia Beach; he crafted the merger agreement between the City of Virginia Beach and Princess Anne County, drafted a new legal code for the reorganized city, and ultimately became city attorney; and

WHEREAS, George Vakos was appointed as the first full-time judge of the Virginia Beach General District Court of the 2nd Judicial District of Virginia in 1965; he presided over the court with great fairness and wisdom until 1967, when he was appointed as a judge of the Virginia Beach Circuit Court of the 2nd Judicial Circuit of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, at the time, George Vakos was the youngest circuit court judge in the Commonwealth and the first such judge of Greek descent; during his tenure, he organized the first full-time salaried magistrate position in Virginia Beach, which became a model for other magistrate systems throughout the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, after his well-earned retirement from the bench in 1984, George Vakos enjoyed spending time with his family in the Outer Banks and the Florida Keys, but maintained strong connections to Virginia Beach; he was named King Neptune XV in 1988 in recognition of his legacy of contributions to the community; and

WHEREAS, George Vakos is fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Nancy; his children, Kimberly, George, Jr., Charles, and Andrew, and their families; his first wife, Madeline; and numerous other family members, friends, and colleagues; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of the Honorable George William Vakos, a former judge and a pillar of the Virginia Beach 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 the Honorable George William Vakos as an expression of the House of Delegates’ respect for his memory.