HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 460 Offered March 6, 2006 Celebrating the life of Dr. Georgia Atkins Ryder. ----------
Patrons-- Howell, A.T., Abbitt, Albo, Alexander, Amundson, Armstrong, Athey, BaCote, Barlow, Bell, Bowling, Brink, Bulova, Byron, Callahan, Caputo, Carrico, Cline, Cole, Cosgrove, Cox, Crockett-Stark, Dance, Dudley, Ebbin, Eisenberg, Englin, Fralin, Frederick, Gear, Gilbert, Griffith, Hall, Hamilton, Hargrove, Hogan, Howell, W.J., Hugo, Hull, Hurt, Iaquinto, Ingram, Janis, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, D.C., Jones, S.C., Kilgore, Landes, Lewis, Lohr, Marsden, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., May, McClellan, McEachin, McQuigg, Melvin, Miller, Moran, Morgan, Nixon, Nutter, O'Bannon, Oder, Orrock, Parrish, Peace, Phillips, Plum, Poisson, Purkey, Putney, Rapp, Reid, Rust, Saxman, Scott, E.T., Scott, J.M., Shannon, Sherwood, Shuler, Sickles, Spruill, Suit, Tata, Toscano, Tyler, Valentine, Waddell, Ward, Wardrup, Ware, O., Watts, Welch and Wittman; Senators: Bell, Blevins, Chichester, Colgan, Cuccinelli, Deeds, Devolites Davis, Edwards, Hanger, Hawkins, Herring, Houck, Howell, Lambert, Locke, Lucas, Marsh, Martin, McDougle, Miller, Newman, Norment, Obenshain, O'Brien, Potts, Puckett, Puller, Quayle, Rerras, Reynolds, Ruff, Saslaw, Stolle, Stosch, Ticer, Wagner, Wampler, Watkins, Whipple and Williams
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WHEREAS, Dr. Georgia Atkins Ryder, dean emerita of the School of Arts and Letters at Norfolk State University and a prominent member of numerous local, state, and national arts organizations, died on December 22, 2005; and

WHEREAS, a native of Newport News, Dr. Ryder earned her undergraduate degree, with highest honors, from Hampton Institute (now Hampton University), was awarded a master of music degree by the University of Michigan and a doctorate, with distinction, from New York University, where she served as an instructor in the Division of Music Education and the School of Continuing Education; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ryder began her professional career in Alexandria and later joined the faculty at what was then Norfolk State College, where she served as department head and became the first dean of the School of Arts and Letters when the college received university status; and

WHEREAS, while at Norfolk State, Dr. Ryder directed the Women's Glee Club, founded the College Sextet, and cochaired the Concert Series Committee; and

WHEREAS, while serving as department head, Dr. Ryder expanded the teaching and performing faculty at Norfolk State, planned and implemented a master of music degree program, and designed an innovative Emphasis in Media undergraduate program; and

WHEREAS, an enthusiastic supporter of the arts and arts organizations throughout her career, Dr. Ryder served as a conductor, adjudicator, lecturer, and scholar and earned numerous awards and honors for her service to the arts and to the community; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ryder was an active member of the Norfolk Commission on the Arts, the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, the Southeastern Virginia Arts Association, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Center for Black Music Research; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ryder remained active in the arts and in the community well past her 1986 retirement from Norfolk State University, and she continued to contribute in numerous ways to the University, the Hampton Roads community, and the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of an outstanding educator, musician, and community leader, Dr. Georgia Atkins Ryder; 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. Georgia Atkins Ryder as an expression of the high regard in which her memory is held by the members of the General Assembly.