SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2020 SESSION

20101776D
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 34
Offered January 21, 2020
Celebrating the life of Helen Reddy Blackwell.
----------
Patrons-- Freitas, Batten, Cole, M.L. and LaRock
----------

WHEREAS, Helen Reddy Blackwell, leading conservative activist and cherished member of the Arlington community, died on September 8, 2019; and

WHEREAS, born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Helen Blackwell earned a bachelor’s degree in art history and a master’s degree in business administration from Louisiana State University, where she laid the foundation for a career promoting conservative causes as co-founder and secretary of Students for Conservative Government; and

WHEREAS, moving to Arlington in 1972, Helen Blackwell continued to be a champion of the conservative movement; for 25 years she served as the Virginia State Chairman of the Eagle Forum, the influential interest group founded by conservative icon Phyllis Schlafly, and for many years wrote a national newsletter on behalf of the organization; and

WHEREAS, in an effort to further promote her principles, Helen Blackwell was director of the Virginia Conservative Alliance and the original chairman of the Voting Integrity Project; and

WHEREAS, for decades, Helen Blackwell supported the Republican Party on the local, state, and national level; she served as Republican captain of the Lyon Village precinct in Arlington for 41 years, was elected chairman of the Arlington County Republican Committee three times, served on the State Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia, and was a state delegate to a Republican National Convention; and

WHEREAS, from 1999 to 2004, Helen Blackwell served the James Madison University Board of Visitors as a gubernatorial appointee of Governor James S. Gilmore; and

WHEREAS, Helen Blackwell used her training in art history to great effect as a longtime volunteer docent at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and contributed to civic causes as a member of the Eleanor Wilson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution; and

WHEREAS, guided throughout her life by her abiding faith, Helen Blackwell enjoyed worship and fellowship with her community at Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church; and

WHEREAS, Helen Blackwell will be dearly remembered and greatly missed by her beloved husband of 47 years, Morton; her sons, Charles and William, 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 Helen Reddy Blackwell; 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 Helen Reddy Blackwell as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for her memory.