HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5176 Offered September 28, 2006 Commending Edward L. Brown, Sr. ----------
Patrons-- Ward, Abbitt, Albo, Alexander, Armstrong, Athey, BaCote, Barlow, Bowling, Brink, Bulova, Byron, Callahan, Caputo, Carrico, Cline, Cole, Cosgrove, Cox, Crockett-Stark, Dance, Dudley, Ebbin, Englin, Gear, Griffith, Hamilton, Howell, A.T., Hugo, Hurt, Iaquinto, Ingram, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, D.C., Jones, S.C., Kilgore, Lingamfelter, Marsden, May, McClellan, McEachin, McQuigg, Melvin, Miller, Moran, Morgan, O'Bannon, Oder, Orrock, Phillips, Poisson, Purkey, Putney, Rapp, Reid, Rust, Saxman, Scott, E.T., Scott, J.M., Shannon, Sherwood, Shuler, Sickles, Spruill, Suit, Tata, Toscano, Tyler, Valentine, Wardrup, Ware, O., Ware, R.L., Watts and Welch
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WHEREAS, Edward L. Brown, Sr., is honored for his "50 years of service on the waterfront" as a great supporter of the Hampton Roads community and Norfolk State University; and

WHEREAS, a native of Norfolk, Edward Brown was born September 21, 1926, and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, where he was elected class president; and

WHEREAS, Edward Brown served his country during World War II in the United States Army and the United States Merchant Marines; and

WHEREAS, after his military career, Edward Brown joined the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) Local 1248 in September 1956; and

WHEREAS, a respected civic leader and communicator, Edward Brown served as ILA president from 1968 to 1985 and is the current international vice president, as well as the general vice president of the ILA Atlantic Coast District; and

WHEREAS, although he never completed his degree, Edward Brown was one of the first students to attend Norfolk State University when it became part of Virginia State College in 1944 and has been a hard-working and devoted benefactor of the university and its students ever since; and

WHEREAS, Edward Brown received an honorary degree from Norfolk State University for his longtime dedication to the well-being and expansion of the university; and

WHEREAS, in 2002 the ILA-Hampton Roads District Council established the Edward L. Brown, Sr., Endowed Professorship in Management at Norfolk State University in his honor, and the organization works diligently to raise funds for the university through golf tournaments and other programs; and

WHEREAS, over the years, Edward Brown has received numerous honors, including Man of the Year by the Hunton YMCA in 1984, the Martin Luther King, Jr., Appreciation Award for labor activities in 1995, and the Distinguished Service Award by the Hampton Roads Maritime Association in 2005; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend Edward L. Brown, Sr., for his "50 years of service on the waterfront" as a great supporter of the Hampton Roads community; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Edward L. Brown, Sr., as an expression of the General Assembly’s appreciation of his many accomplishments and his commitment to his fellow citizens, especially the students of Norfolk State University.