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2020 SPECIAL SESSION I

20201129D
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 606
Offered September 24, 2020
Celebrating the life of Joseph Alexander.
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Patrons-- Sickles, Krizek, Adams, D.M., Ayala, Bulova, Carr, Cole, J.G., Delaney, Hope, Kory, Levine, Rasoul, Simonds and Watts
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WHEREAS, Joseph Alexander, a dedicated public servant who represented the Lee District on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for more than three decades and was well known for his expertise on transportation issues in Northern Virginia, died on August 30, 2020; and

WHEREAS, a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Joseph “Joe” Alexander relocated to Virginia with his family and graduated from Mount Vernon High School and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; and

WHEREAS, Joe Alexander served his country during the Korean War as a member of the United States Air Force, rising to the rank of first lieutenant; and

WHEREAS, after his honorable military service, Joe Alexander returned to the Commonwealth and followed in his father’s footsteps as the owner of Franconia Hardware; and

WHEREAS, desirous to be of further service, Joe Alexander ran for and was elected to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 1963; his experience as a hardware store owner translated to a practical leadership style and an unparalleled level of constituent service; and

WHEREAS, during his long tenure as a county supervisor, Joe Alexander witnessed significant population growth in the Lee District and throughout Fairfax County; he oversaw the establishment of modern water and sewer systems, the installation of sidewalks and streetlights, and the creation of new green spaces and parks to better serve the community; and

WHEREAS, as a longtime member of the Franconia Volunteer Fire Department, Joe Alexander was a champion for public safety issues and worked diligently to support law-enforcement officers and other first responders in the region; and

WHEREAS, having joined the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) as a founding member in 1964, Joe Alexander represented the region before organizations like the Virginia Railway Express and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA); and

WHEREAS, most notably, Joe Alexander was one of the chief architects of the Washington Metro, overseeing the design and construction of the rail system, as well as working with other regional leaders to establish the Metrobus system; and

WHEREAS, upon his well-earned retirement in 1995, Joe Alexander was the longest-serving member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; in recognition of his legacy contributions to the Lee District, NVTC, and WMATA, the Joe Alexander Franconia-Springfield Transit Center was named in his honor; and

WHEREAS, Joe Alexander served the Virginia Transportation Association for over three decades in many leadership roles, including as president and as a member of the executive committee and board of directors; and

WHEREAS, at the national level, Joe Alexander served as chair of the American Public Transportation Association for two years and was inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame in 2008; and

WHEREAS, Joe Alexander offered his expertise as a vice president of Washington-Lee Savings and Loan Association and preserved the history and heritage of the region as a board member and volunteer at the Franconia Museum; and

WHEREAS, Joe Alexander will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife of 64 years, Davina; his daughters, Cathy and Cheri, and their families; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of Joseph Alexander, a highly respected former member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; 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 Joseph Alexander as an expression of the House of Delegates’ respect for his memory.