HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 192 Offered January 18, 2006 Celebrating the life of Dr. John A. Rawls. ---------- Patron-- Hargrove ----------

WHEREAS, Dr. John A. Rawls of Hanover, a dedicated physician and respected citizen, died on December 31, 2005, at the age of 71; and

WHEREAS, John Rawls graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in 1956, began his study of medicine at the Medical College of Virginia in 1960, and completed graduate study, specializing in general and vascular surgery, in 1964, at which time he began his practice; and

WHEREAS, in 1967 John Rawls enlisted and served his country in the United States Army in Southeast Asia, receiving a Bronze Star with V Device; and

WHEREAS, in 1969 Dr. Rawls returned home to practice medicine, caring for patients in Hanover County and the Richmond metropolitan area with immense skill and compassion for over 30 years; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rawls served as the operational medical director for the East Hanover Volunteer Rescue Squad for 34 years, in addition to dispatching and answering emergency calls; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rawls generously gave his time and expertise as the chief medical advisor to the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, Inc., as the co-operational medical director of the Virginia State Police Med-Flight 1 operation, and as the medical advisor of the Old Dominion EMS Alliance; and

WHEREAS, committed to improving the quality of life for all citizens of Hanover County, Dr. Rawls served as a member of the Hanover County and Virginia medical boards and the Hanover County Board of Supervisors; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rawls participated in numerous civic organizations including the Mechanicsville and Hanover Businessmen’s Association and the Hanover Ruritan Club and served as a volunteer at the Virginia War Memorial; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rawls served the Commonwealth and the nation with dignity and devotion and will be missed and fondly remembered by his family, his numerous friends, his colleagues in the medical field and the emergency medical services system, and the countless individuals whose lives he touched; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the passing of an exemplary physician, outstanding public servant, and fine Virginian, Dr. John A. Rawls; 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 Dr. John A. Rawls as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.