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1998 SESSION

985651443
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 298
Offered January 26, 1998
On the death of John N. Sturdivant.
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Patrons-- Scott, Abbitt, Albo, Almand, Baskerville, Behm, Bennett, Brink, Christian, Clement, Councill, Cranwell, Crittenden, Croshaw, Darner, DeBoer, Devolites, Diamonstein, Dickinson, Grayson, Hall, Hull, Jackson, Joannou, Jones, D.C., Jones, J.C., Keating, Marshall, McClure, McEachin, Melvin, Moran, Murphy, O'Brien, Plum, Puller, Robinson, Spruill, Stump, Tate, Thomas, Van Landingham, Van Yahres, Watts, Williams and Woodrum; Senators: Gartlan, Howell, Ticer, Whipple and Woods
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WHEREAS, John N. Sturdivant, president of the American Federation of Government Employees and a longtime resident of Fairfax County, died on October 28, 1997; and

WHEREAS, born in Philadelphia and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut, John Sturdivant graduated from Antioch College, studied law at George Washington University, and served in the U.S. Air Force; and

WHEREAS, shortly after the beginning of his career with the federal government, John Sturdivant became active in local politics and trade unionism, serving for eight years as president of the American Federation of Government Employees' Local 1754 in Winchester, Virginia; and

WHEREAS, his remarkable skills and evident leadership abilities inevitably led John Sturdivant to the national office of AFGE, where he served in a variety of positions before becoming president in 1988; and

WHEREAS, John Sturdivant's tenure as president of AFGE coincided with turbulent times for federal employees, and his strength, his perseverance, and his leadership were constantly tested; and

WHEREAS, John Sturdivant led the effort to ease a 57-year-old ban on political activities for federal workers and was a key player in the negotiations to end the two recent and highly controversial federal government shut-downs; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his near-decade of exemplary service as president of an organization representing over 600,000 federal employees, John Sturdivant served as vice president of the executive council of the AFL-CIO, of which the AFGE is a major part; and

WHEREAS, one of the highest ranking African-Americans in the labor movement, John Sturdivant received the Spirit of Democracy award from the National Coalition on Black Voter Participation and was appointed by President Clinton to the National Partnership Council, an initiative to improve labor-management relations in the executive branch; and

WHEREAS, John Sturdivant was also active in politics, serving on the Democratic Party's national committee and on the Fairfax County and Virginia central committees; and

WHEREAS, throughout a career that spanned more than 35 years, John Sturdivant remained true to his ideals; served his constituents with skill, passion, and integrity; and left an indelible mark on both the federal government and the American labor movement; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly note with great sadness the passing of John N. Sturdivant; 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 John N. Sturdivant as an expression of the abiding respect in which his memory is held by the members of the General Assembly.