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2002 SESSION

020931783
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 284
Offered January 23, 2002
On the death of James McIlhany Thomson.
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Patrons-- Janis, Abbitt, Albo, Almand, Amundson, Armstrong, Athey, Barlow, Bell, Black, Bland, Bloxom, Bolvin, Brink, Broman, Bryant, Byron, Callahan, Carrico, Christian, Cole, Cosgrove, Councill, Cox, Crittenden, Darner, Devolites, Dillard, Drake, Dudley, Gear, Griffith, Hall, Hamilton, Hargrove, Hogan, Howell, Hull, Hurt, Ingram, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, D.C., Jones, J.C., Jones, S.C., Keister, Kilgore, Landes, Lingamfelter, Louderback, Marrs, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., May, McDonnell, McDougle, McQuigg, Melvin, Miles, Moran, Morgan, Nixon, Nutter, O'Bannon, O'Brien, Oder, Orrock, Parrish, Petersen, Phillips, Plum, Pollard, Purkey, Putney, Rapp, Reese, Reid, Rollison, Rust, Saxman, Scott, Sears, Sherwood, Shuler, Spruill, Stump, Suit, Tata, Thomas, Van Landingham, Van Yahres, Wardrup, Ware, Watts, Weatherholtz, Welch, Wilkins, Woodrum and Wright
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WHEREAS, James McIlhany Thomson of Berryville died on July 22, 2001; and

WHEREAS, a prominent attorney, legislator, and military veteran, James Thomson spent his life in the service of others; and

WHEREAS, James Thomson attended the Virginia Military Institute, where he served as a corporal in Company D and was a member of the wrestling team; and

WHEREAS, in a time of national emergency, James Thomson temporarily set aside his personal interests, served with honor and distinction in the United States Marine Corps during the Second World War and attained the rank of first lieutenant; and

WHEREAS, upon completion of his military service, James Thomson returned to Virginia and earned his LL.B. from the University of Virginia in 1950; and

WHEREAS, James Thomson practiced law in Alexandria, providing help, advice, and wise counsel to his fellow citizens; and

WHEREAS, James Thomson was elected to the House of Delegates in 1955, where he became a rising member of the conservative arm of the Democratic Party; and

WHEREAS, as the majority leader of the House of Delegates from 1968 until 1978, James Thomson, in the words of the Washington Post, "was regarded as a skillful and true-to-his-words politician who ably delivered appropriations for the METRO System, George Mason University and other state-supported facilities in Northern Virginia"; and

WHEREAS, James Thomson served as chairman of the Virginia Code Commission and as State Insurance Commissioner before retiring from public life in 1986; and

WHEREAS, upon retirement from public life, James Thomson continued his record of service to others, lending his time, talent, and attention as a founding board member of Community Bank of Northern Virginia; and

WHEREAS, the House of Delegates and the Commonwealth have lost a prominent citizen and true friend with a servant's soul; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly note with sadness the passing of an exceptional citizen of the Commonwealth, James McIlhany Thomson; 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 James McIlhany Thomson as an expression of the esteem in which his memory is held by the members of the General Assembly.