HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 477 Offered March 6, 2006 Celebrating the life of R. Beasley Jones, Sr. ----------
Patrons-- Hall, Abbitt, Brink, Callahan, Cox, Ebbin, Hamilton, Hargrove, Howell, W.J., Ingram, Joannou, Johnson, Melvin, Orrock, Parrish, Phillips, Plum, Purkey, Putney, Reid, Sickles and Tata
----------

WHEREAS, R. Beasley Jones, Sr., of Dinwiddie County, a former member of the House of Delegates and a leading Southside Virginia educator and community servant, died on May 13, 2005; and

WHEREAS, a native of Richmond, Beasley Jones earned an associate's degree from Chowan College, a bachelor's degree from East Carolina University, and a master's degree from The College of William and Mary; and

WHEREAS, Beasley Jones began his career as an educator in Emporia, where he coached the high school baseball team, then moved to a similar position at Dinwiddie High School; and

WHEREAS, after moving into administrative positions at Dinwiddie elementary schools, Beasley Jones became principal of Dinwiddie High School in 1974, a position he held until 1992, when he became the school district's coordinator of programs for at-risk students until his retirement; and

WHEREAS, from 1979 until 1992,  Beasley Jones represented the citizens of the 62nd House District, then comprised of Brunswick, Greensville, and Sussex Counties, the City of Emporia, and  part of Dinwiddie; and

WHEREAS, Beasley Jones represented his constituents with commitment and effectiveness, and was respected by his colleagues in the House of Delegates for his hard work and his dedication to the people he served; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure in the House of Delegates, Beasley Jones supported the removal of tolls from Interstate 85, the widening of U.S. Route 58, and various education initiatives; and

WHEREAS, Beasley Jones served on the House Committees on Finance; Counties, Cities and Towns; Conservation and Natural Resources; and Agriculture; and

WHEREAS, while still a member of the General Assembly, Beasley Jones assisted Delegate Gerald L. Baliles in his campaign for attorney general and after he left the Legislature, he assisted fellow Delegate Paul J. Councill in his newly redrawn House district; and

WHEREAS, throughout his distinguished career in the General Assembly, Beasley Jones was known for his quiet advocacy and his dedication to serving the people of the 62nd House District 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 a distinguished Virginian, R. Beasley Jones, Sr.; 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 R. Beasley Jones, Sr., as an expression of the esteem in which his memory is held by the members of the General Assembly and the citizens of Virginia.