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2023 SESSION

23104378D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 621
Offered February 6, 2023
Commending John Randolph Nelson.
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Patrons-- Walker and Byron; Senators: Newman and Peake
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WHEREAS, John Randolph Nelson, an esteemed attorney and public servant who has served on the Lynchburg City Council since 2010, retired from public service in 2022; and

WHEREAS, a native of Lynchburg, John Randolph “Randy” Nelson has been politically minded dating back to the 1960s, when his observations of the civil rights movement at the time transformed his outlook on the world; and

WHEREAS, after attending Randolph-Macon College, where he was a standout player on the school’s soccer team, Randy Nelson coached soccer briefly at the University of Richmond while earning his juris doctor degree; and

WHEREAS, Randy Nelson has practiced law in Lynchburg for many years, earning several honors and awards for his service, including a Tradition of Excellence Award from the Board of Governors of the General Practice Section of the Virginia State Bar in 2019, the Mayor’s Award of Excellence from the City of Lynchburg in 2008, and the Pro Bono Award from the Virginia Legal Aid Society in 2004; and

WHEREAS, Randy Nelson was the head coach of the soccer team at E.C. Glass High School of Lynchburg in the 1970s, where he led the program to its first Western District title and became inspired to focus on improving the skills of young soccer players in Lynchburg by helping to develop local soccer camps and leagues, an endeavor that led to the founding of Central Virginia United Soccer; and

WHEREAS, tapped for an appointment to the Lynchburg City Council in 2010 following the departure of the Honorable T. Scott Garrett to the General Assembly, Randy Nelson was elected to a full term the same year and served the body until November 7, 2022; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure on the Lynchburg City Council, Randy Nelson advanced several worthy initiatives for the betterment of Lynchburg, including development of the Bluffwalk downtown, renovation of the Virginian Hotel, and restoration of the historic theater at the Academy Center of the Arts; and

WHEREAS, Randy Nelson was valued by his colleagues on the Lynchburg City Council as a mentor, and for the courteous, attentive, and thoughtful manner in which he conducted himself in public service; and

WHEREAS, Randy Nelson graciously resigned from the Lynchburg City Council in November 2022 instead of January 2023 to allow his successor to have adequate time to become oriented to the nature and responsibilities of the job, underscoring his deep commitment to the city’s well-being; and

WHEREAS, after stepping away from his role as councilman, Randy Nelson looks forward to spending more time with his wife and family and to supporting Central Virginia United Soccer and other community organizations that have long been near and dear to his heart; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend John Randolph Nelson, a public servant of great integrity and purpose, on the occasion of his retirement from the Lynchburg City Council; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to John Randolph Nelson as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his contributions to Lynchburg and the Commonwealth.