HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 244 Offered January 30, 2006 Commending Barney Annas. ---------- Patrons-- Tata, Howell, A.T., Iaquinto, Purkey, Suit, Wardrup and Welch; Senator: Quayle ----------

WHEREAS, Barney Annas is recognized as a tireless advocate, fundraiser, and policy maker for the arts in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Barney Annas was born and raised in Suffolk, attended the Norfolk Division of The College of William and Mary, now Old Dominion University, and moved to Virginia Beach in 1958; and

WHEREAS, Barney Annas managed a life insurance agency for 21 years and worked for Merrill Lynch as a stockbroker; and

WHEREAS, committed to improving the quality of life for all of the citizens of Hampton Roads, Barney Annas served as a board member of the Tidewater Heart Association, the Norfolk YMCA, the Old Dominion University Scholarship Foundation, the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, Old Dominion University, and the Tidewater Council of the Boy Scouts of America; and

WHEREAS, Barney Annas is especially admired for his lifelong passion and devotion to the arts; he has been instrumental in nurturing all aspects of the arts, from fine arts to the performing arts, in Hampton Roads and across the Commonwealth, and has been an outstanding advocate and articulate spokesperson for the arts and the arts community before the legislature; and

WHEREAS, committed to local and statewide arts and enrichment programs, Barney Annas served as a founding board member of the Suffolk Center for the Cultural Arts and a board member and president of Virginians for the Arts, the statewide citizens advocacy organization, as well as a board member for the Virginians for the Arts Foundation, the Virginia Opera, the Virginia Stage Company, and the Virginia Beach Pops; and

WHEREAS, because of his vast policy experience, Barney Annas was appointed to the board of the Virginia Commission for the Arts by Governor James S. Gilmore, III in 1999 for a five-year term; and

WHEREAS, for his enduring commitment and support of the arts, Barney Annas was honored with the Vianne B. Webb Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Cultural Alliance of Greater Hampton Roads in 1999 and honored as director emeritus of the Virginians for the Arts in 2005; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend and congratulate Barney Annas for his dedication and valuable contributions to the arts in Virginia; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Barney Annas as an expression of the General Assembly's appreciation for his devotion to the arts and the arts community in the Commonwealth.