SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 280 Offered March 3, 2006 Celebrating the life of James William Myers. ---------- Patron-- Blevins ----------

WHEREAS, James William Myers of Chesapeake, revered teacher and athletic director of Oscar Smith High School for 27 years, died on February 16, 2006; and

WHEREAS, William “Bill” Myers was born in Colerain, North Carolina, and after graduating from East Carolina College in 1962, he moved to Suffolk; and

WHEREAS, for the next 15 years, Bill Myers taught health and physical education at Truitt Junior High School; and

WHEREAS, Bill Myers transferred to Oscar Smith High School, where he served as an outstanding athletic director until his retirement in 2004; and

WHEREAS, Bill Myers was a respected and talented varsity coach of basketball, baseball, and track, as well as the head coach of junior varsity football at Oscar Smith High School; and

WHEREAS, in 1981, Bill Myers led the Oscar Smith High School football team to the Southeastern District championship; and

WHEREAS, the Oscar Smith High School gymnasium, named the James William Myers Gymnasium, is also affectionately dubbed the “Dollar Dome” in honor of Bill Myers’ nickname, “Dollar Bill”; and

WHEREAS, also an excellent role model for young people in the Chesapeake community, Bill Myers diligently served as deputy commissioner and then commissioner of the Virginia Amateur Softball Association for 25 years; and

WHEREAS, Bill Myers was inducted into the Tidewater Virginia Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame in 1989; and

WHEREAS, Bill Myers will be fondly remembered as a devoted mentor for youth and a passionate community supporter and will be sorely missed by his beloved wife Ann White, his two daughters, his numerous friends and admirers, and the students and parents of Oscar Smith High School; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a fine educator and outstanding Virginian, James William Myers; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of James William Myers as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.