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1996 SESSION

966030424
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 342
Offered February 26, 1996
On the death of General Marvin Theron Ball, Jr.
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Patrons-- Reid, Cantor, Rhodes and Rollison; Senators: Benedetti and Stosch
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Consent to introduce
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WHEREAS, Brigadier General Marvin Theron Ball, Jr., retired assistant adjutant general for operations and training of the Virginia Army National Guard and a native of Gloucester County, died on October 29, 1995; and

WHEREAS, because Marvin T. Ball was too young to take up his commission upon graduation from VPI in 1939, he spent two years as a teacher at Washington-Lee High School in Montross, Virginia, and was subsequently commissioned a second lieutenant in January of 1941; and

WHEREAS, during World War II, Lieutenant Ball served his country as an Intelligence Officer of the 234th Anti-Aircraft Battalion in the China-India-Burma Theater and the Marianas; and

WHEREAS, a member of the Virginia National Guard since November of 1949, General Marvin Ball participated in the organization of the 107th Artillery Brigade of the Virginia Army National Guard (Air Defense), becoming its commander on March 8, 1962; and

WHEREAS, On March 8, 1962, Marvin T. Ball, Jr. was, at the age of 42, promoted to the rank of Brigadier General with the approval of the United States Senate and is believed to be the youngest Brigadier General so confirmed; and

WHEREAS, General Ball was twice awarded the Legion of Merit, once for exceptional service while commanding the 107th Artillery Brigade of the Virginia Army National Guard, and again when he retired on February 25, 1971, with the rank of Major General; and

WHEREAS, General Ball served as a member of the Governor's Military Staff under Governors Mills E. Godwin, A. Linwood Holton, John N. Dalton, Charles S. Robb, and Gerald L. Baliles.

WHEREAS, in addition to his 30 years of military service, General Ball was chief of procurement and contract services for the U.S. Small Business Administration's regional office in Richmond, from which he retired in mid-1970; and

WHEREAS, General Marvin T. Ball was a member of the National Guard Association of the United States, the American Legion, and the Varina Lions Club, and was a former vestryman of Varina Episcopal Church; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of an exceptional military leader and citizen of the Commonwealth, General Marvin Theron Ball, Jr.; 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 Brigadier General Marvin Theron Ball, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly's great respect for his memory.