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1997 SESSION

970105445
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 501
Offered January 16, 1997
On the death of Robert E. Harris.
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Patrons-- Rust, Abbitt, Albo, Almand, Armstrong, Baker, Barlow, Behm, Bennett, Bloxom, Brickley, Bryant, Callahan, Cantor, Christian, Clement, Connally, Cooper, Councill, Cox, Cranwell, Crittenden, Croshaw, Crouch, Cunningham, Darner, Davies, DeBoer, Deeds, Diamonstein, Dickinson, Dillard, Drake, Dudley, Forbes, Grayson, Griffith, Guest, Hall, Hamilton, Hargrove, Heilig, Howell, Hull, Ingram, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, D.C., Jones, J.C., Katzen, Keating, Kilgore, Landes, Lovelace, Marshall, May, McClure, McDonnell, McEachin, Melvin, Mims, Moore, Moran, Morgan, Moss, Murphy, Nelms, Nixon, O'Brien, Orrock, Parrish, Phillips, Plum, Puller, Purkey, Putney, Reid, Rhodes, Robinson, Rollison, Ruff, Scott, Sherwood, Shuler, Spruill, Stump, Tata, Tate, Thomas, Van Landingham, Van Yahres, Wagner, Wardrup, Watkins, Watts, Way, Weatherholtz, Wilkins and Woodrum; Senators: Barry, Benedetti, Bolling, Chichester, Colgan, Couric, Earley, Edwards, Gartlan, Hanger, Hawkins, Holland, Houck, Howell, Lambert, Lucas, Marsh, Martin, Marye, Maxwell, Miller, K.G., Miller, Y.B., Newman, Norment, Potts, Quayle, Reasor, Reynolds, Saslaw, Schrock, Stolle, Stosch, Ticer, Trumbo, Waddell, Walker, Wampler, Whipple, Williams and Woods
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WHEREAS, Robert E. Harris of Fairfax, a senior member of the House of Delegates, died on November 29, 1996; and

WHEREAS, a native of Joplin, Missouri, Robert Harris was a graduate of George Washington University, served on active duty with the U.S. Army for over five years, and was a graduate of the Army's Nuclear Reactor Engineering School; and

WHEREAS, a delegate from the 37th District in Fairfax since 1974, Robert Harris quietly compiled an outstanding record in the General Assembly, pursuing with particular diligence and success the funding of higher education in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the second-ranking Republican on the House Committee on Appropriations, Delegate Harris was successful in channeling essential funding to Virginia's colleges and universities, fulfilling a lifelong commitment to higher education; and

WHEREAS, in honor of Robert Harris, George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College will establish a scholarship fund to allow students from the community college to complete their education at George Mason; and

WHEREAS, Robert Harris was also an accomplished and respected member of the House Transportation, General Laws, and Chesapeake and Its Tributaries Committees; and

WHEREAS, for over 30 years an employee of Rockwell Corporation, Robert Harris was manager of the government affairs at Rockwell's Washington office at the time of his death; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his service with the House of Delegates, Robert Harris was a longtime member of the Northern Virginia Transportation Committee, served on the Virginia Prison and Overcrowding Commission, was vice chairman of the Lorton Facility Acquisition Committee, and was a member of the board of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments; and

WHEREAS, long interested in the environment, Robert Harris served on environmental affairs committees for the National Association of Manufacturers, the Electronic Industries Association, the National Printing and Equipment Suppliers Association, and the American Astronautical Association; and

WHEREAS, Robert Harris' long and distinguished service to the citizens of Fairfax and the Commonwealth was characterized by honesty, integrity, and a genuine concern for the welfare of those he represented so effectively; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the loss of one of its longest-serving and most respected members, Robert E. Harris of Fairfax; 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 Robert E. Harris as an expression of the General Assembly's deep and abiding respect for his memory.