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2021 SESSION

21101366D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 535
Offered January 13, 2021
Prefiled January 10, 2021
Commending Mark Stripe.
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Patrons-- Sullivan and Hope
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WHEREAS, Mark Stripe, a beloved librarian and coach at Yorktown High School in Arlington County, who inspired thousands of young athletes over an illustrious 46-year coaching career, retired in 2020; and

WHEREAS, Mark Stripe excelled in many sports while attending Schuylkill Haven High School in Pennsylvania and was a top cross country and track and field runner at Millersville University; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from Millersville University in 1974, Mark Stripe coached at New Oxford High School in Pennsylvania for 12 years before relocating to Northern Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Mark Stripe was head coach of the girls’ cross country team at Bishop Denis J. O’Connell High School in Arlington when they won a Washington Catholic Athletic Conference state championship in 1986; and

WHEREAS, for 33 years, Mark Stripe was a cherished member of the Yorktown High School community, serving most of his tenure as a librarian and as the coach of the boys’ and girls’ cross country and track and field teams; and

WHEREAS, over the years, Mark Stripe’s teams at Yorktown High School won multiple district titles across all three sports; notably, the girls’ cross country squad qualified for its regional meet a record 22 seasons in a row; and

WHEREAS, Mark Stripe went to great lengths to inspire his athletes, gamely dyeing his beard school colors and engaging in other antics that promoted a fun and inclusive environment in which young athletes could thrive; and

WHEREAS, as a testament to his abilities as a coach, several of Mark Stripe’s students enjoyed successful careers in cross country, track and field, and other sports after high school, including four All-Americans and a member of the National Football League; and

WHEREAS, through tireless dedication to his students and athletes, Mark Stripe motivated countless young people to challenge themselves and succeed, both in and out of the classroom, leaving a legacy that will be admired for years to come; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Mark Stripe, treasured librarian and coach of the cross country and track and field teams at Yorktown High School in Arlington County, on the occasion of his retirement; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Mark Stripe as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his impressive career and best wishes for the future.