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2022 SPECIAL SESSION I
22208241DWHEREAS, J. Michael Smith, who cofounded Home School Legal Defense Association in 1983 while still in private law practice in California and moved to Virginia with his wife, Elizabeth, in 1987 to help lead the association, will be retiring on July 31, 2022; and
WHEREAS, J. Michael “Mike” Smith was instrumental in making homeschooling possible for millions of children by providing excellent movement leadership for nearly 40 years, helping the homeschooling community grow from thousands of children in the early days to millions today; and
WHEREAS, Mike Smith succeeded cofounder Michael Farris as president of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) in 2000 and has helped the association expand beyond legal assistance, including by becoming a major charitable assistance provider, offering educational consultation to thousands of homeschooling families, and creating a youth civics outreach program called Generation Joshua, which trains thousands of homeschooled teenagers in the founding principles of the United States; and
WHEREAS, Mike Smith’s dedication to forming deep, long-lasting relationships with homeschool leaders throughout the nation and providing them with encouragement and support has significantly contributed to the success of the homeschooling movement; and
WHEREAS, Mike Smith’s commitment to homeschool freedom is international, having also helped establish and lead HSLDA Canada and the Global Home Education Exchange; and
WHEREAS, Mike Smith has a deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ and has provided more than 30 years of exemplary volunteer leadership to the Loudoun Camp of Gideons International; and
WHEREAS, Mike Smith frequently acknowledges that his beloved wife, Elizabeth, has been instrumental in all of his achievements; and
WHEREAS, Mike and Elizabeth Smith have for many years led Breakthrough, a nonprofit intercessory prayer ministry, carrying on the work of founder Catherine Marshall; and
WHEREAS, Mike Smith has also supported Elizabeth Smith in her work on the board of The Family Foundation of Virginia, which protects parental rights and rights to life, religious freedom, and constitutional government; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That J. Michael and Elizabeth Smith hereby be commended for their many personal and professional achievements in service to young people and people in need throughout the Commonwealth on the occasion of his retirement from the Home School Legal Defense Association; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to J. Michael and Elizabeth Smith as an expression of the House of Delegates’ admiration for their efforts to make homeschooling possible in the Commonwealth, the United States, and around the world.