HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 972 Offered February 19, 2007 Commending David A. Bell. ----------
Patrons-- Brink, Ebbin, Eisenberg, Englin and Scott, J.M.; Senators: Ticer and Whipple
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WHEREAS, David Bell, Clerk of the Court for Arlington County, will retire after 37 years of outstanding service to the citizens of Arlington County and the Commonwealth as Arlington’s longest serving elected official; and

WHEREAS, David Bell joined the Arlington County Clerk’s office in February 1971, was promoted to the position of chief court clerk in 1974, and was appointed clerk of the court by the judges of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in 1976; and

WHEREAS, in 1977, at 28 years of age, David Bell became one of the youngest elected clerks in Virginia history, carrying every precinct in Arlington County in a three-way race; and

WHEREAS, David Bell has been an outstanding administrator with an impressive record of accomplishment that includes the application of innovative court and records management practices, early adoption of “call in” jury administration, implementation of automatic civil case docketing, and initiation of electronic scanning of land records; and

WHEREAS, in 1997, in recognition of his leadership and professionalism as clerk of the court, the Arlington Bar Association awarded David Bell the prestigious William L. Winston Justice System Award for his contributions to the county’s court system; and

WHEREAS, a leader in his profession, David Bell has served the Commonwealth’s judicial system as a member of the Virginia Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on Rules of Court for over 20 years, as president of the Court Clerks of Virginia, and as chairperson of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council in Arlington; and

WHEREAS, a vital member of the Arlington community who believes in giving back to his fellow citizens, David Bell currently serves on the Salvation Army Board of Management, previously served on the advisory boards of the United Way, the Red Cross, and the Y.M.C.A., and coached youth baseball and basketball for more than 25 years; and

WHEREAS, David Bell has devoted almost four decades to the Arlington County Clerk’s office, working energetically and conscientiously as a dedicated public servant; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend and congratulate David A. Bell for his longtime service to the citizens of Arlington County and the Commonwealth; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Arlington County resident David A. Bell as an expression of the General Assembly’s gratitude for his commitment to public service in the Commonwealth and with best wishes for a rewarding retirement.