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2021 SESSION

21102922D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 324
Offered January 22, 2021
Celebrating the life of Edward S. Garcia.
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Patrons-- Cosgrove, DeSteph and Kiggans; Delegate: Knight
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WHEREAS, Edward S. Garcia, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather and a successful entrepreneur, developer, and philanthropist who worked diligently to enhance the quality of life for all residents of Hampton Roads, died on May 30, 2019; and

WHEREAS, a child of the Great Depression, Edward “Eddie” Garcia developed strong family ties, an unwavering commitment to the importance of community, and a tireless work ethic at a young age; and

WHEREAS, Eddie Garcia dropped out of school after sixth grade to support his family by selling newspapers on street corners in Norfolk and scraping oil off the floor of a local motor shop, where he learned the foundations of his eventual trade as a master electrician; and

WHEREAS, Eddie Garcia subsequently worked in heavy construction at area military bases until he joined many of the other young men of his generation in service to the nation during World War II as a member of the United States Navy; and

WHEREAS, after advanced training as an electrician, Eddie Garcia served in the Pacific theater of the war, then joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve upon returning home to the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, possessed of an entrepreneurial spirit, Eddie Garcia founded two companies, ES Garcia Electric to focus on larger, union-based contracts and Volta Electric for smaller jobs; through determination and vision, he grew his businesses from one service truck to a fleet of 17 trucks with employees completing electrical work at government and commercial facilities; and

WHEREAS, Eddie Garcia earned a reputation for transparency, efficiency, and innovative solutions to problems and many prominent government contracts, including work at Naval Station Norfolk, Naval Air Station Oceana, the docking facilities for the first nuclear-powered submarine, and the construction of Kennedy Space Center in Florida; and

WHEREAS, Eddie Garcia expanded his business acumen to include real estate sales and development, and his work on numerous buildings, plazas, and landmarks in Virginia Beach helped shape the future of the city; he also developed multiple office buildings, restaurants, and marinas in Florida, and was appointed to the North Carolina State Business Advisory Council in recognition of his work there, as well; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his other business ventures, Eddie Garcia oversaw operation of the 15,000-acre Garcia Family Farm and was developing plans to open a mining company; and

WHEREAS, Eddie Garcia volunteered his time and leadership to countless boards and committees, and he was appointed to the Commonwealth Transportation Board and served as a commissioner of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel Commission; he contributed funds, entrepreneurial counsel, and wise guidance to a wide range of charitable groups and civic organizations throughout Hampton Roads; and

WHEREAS, the founding director of Citizens for Clean Energy, Eddie Garcia promoted the importance of energy efficiency and invested in alternative energy sources, including solar power; and

WHEREAS, among many awards and accolades, Eddie Garcia received the 1997 Good Scout Award from the Tidewater Council of the Boy Scouts of America in recognition of his personal and professional contributions to the community; and

WHEREAS, Eddie Garcia treated everyone, from well-known elected leaders and business executives to strangers in need, with the same level of care and respect, becoming a trusted advisor, mentor, and friend to countless individuals; and

WHEREAS, Eddie Garcia’s greatest joy in life was his family, and he is fondly remembered and greatly missed by his beloved wife, Sandra; his children, Edward, Jr., Carmen, Ricky, Ramona, Angela, Rosa, and Ana, and their families; and numerous other family members, friends, and colleagues; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Edward S. Garcia, a pillar of the Virginia Beach community; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Edward S. Garcia as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.