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1995 SESSION

LD5439695
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 382
Offered January 27, 1995
On the death of Albertis S. Harrison, Jr.
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Patrons--Lucas, Andrews, Barry, Bell, Benedetti, Calhoun, Chichester, Colgan, Cross, Earley, Gartlan, Goode, Hawkins, Holland, C.A., Holland, E.M., Holland, R.J., Houck, Howell, Lambert, Marsh, Martin, Marye, Maxwell, Miller, K.G., Miller, Y.B., Nolen, Norment, Potts, Quayle, Reasor, Robb, Saslaw, Schewel, Stolle, Stosch, Trumbo, Waddell, Walker, Wampler and Woods; Delegates: Abbitt, Almand, Armstrong, Baker, Ball, Bloxom, Callahan, Clement, Councill, Cox, Cranwell, Croshaw, Crouch, Davies, Deeds, Dickinson, Dillard, Giesen, Grayson, Griffith, Hall, Hargrove, Harris, Heilig, Johnson, Jones, J.C., Katzen, Marshall, McDonnell, Melvin, Mims, Morgan, Nelms, Newman, O'Brien, Parrish, Ruff, Sherwood, Spruill, Stump, Thomas, Watkins and Way
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Consent to introduce
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WHEREAS, Albertis S. Harrison, Jr., Governor of Virginia, Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court, and member of the Senate of Virginia, died on January 23, 1995; and

WHEREAS, the only governor in the 20th century to serve in all three branches of the state government, Albertis Harrison began his political career in 1931, when he was elected Commonwealth's attorney for Brunswick County, his ancestral home; and

WHEREAS, after service in the U.S. Navy Reserve during World War II, Albertis Harrison returned to the political arena, winning election to the Senate in 1948; and

WHEREAS, in 1957, Albertis Harrison was elected Virginia's Attorney General, and in 1961, he won a hard-fought Democratic nominating primary for the office of Governor, thereafter easily winning the general election; and

WHEREAS, Albertis Harrison's tenure as Governor, from 1962 until 1966, was a time of great change for Virginia, from a predominantly rural society to an increasingly industrialized, urban Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Governor Harrison accepted, guided, and enhanced this momentous transition, championing expanded and improved public education and a system of state-supported technical schools that ultimately became Virginia's community college system; working tirelessly to attract industry to the Commonwealth; and leading the effort to modernize and improve the Commonwealth's highways; and

WHEREAS, during Governor Harrison's term, expenditures for public schools increased by one-third; over 200 new schools were built, over 300 were expanded and improved, and nearly 6,000 new classrooms and 3,000 new laboratories were constructed; his last budget called for enhanced teacher salaries, an expanded teacher scholarship program, and greater attention to special education; and

WHEREAS, Governor Harrison's industrial development efforts led to the creation of 177,000 new jobs for Virginians, 300 new manufacturing plants, and 350 major industry expansions; and

WHEREAS, after leaving office, Albertis Harrison was almost immediately chosen by his successor, Governor Mills Godwin, to chair the 11-man commission created to recommend changes to the Virginia Constitution, the first complete overhaul of the Constitution since the beginning of the century; and

WHEREAS, in 1967, Albertis Harrison was named by Governor Godwin to the Virginia Supreme Court, where he served with great distinction until his retirement in 1982; and

WHEREAS, throughout his long career of public service, Albertis Harrison, a man of surpassing wisdom, incisive wit, unwavering determination, and unfailing commitment to the Commonwealth, served the citizens of Virginia with integrity, judgment, and good will; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly note with great sadness the passing of a truly distinguished Virginian, Albertis S. Harrison, Jr.; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Albertis S. Harrison, Jr.; as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his life of unparalleled service to the Commonwealth of Virginia.