SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 342 Offered January 10, 2007 Prefiled January 8, 2007 Celebrating the life of Thomas A. Bralley, Jr. ---------- Patron-- Reynolds ----------

WHEREAS, Thomas A. Bralley, Jr., of Wythe County, a respected public servant and outstanding bank executive, died on October 18, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Thomas "Tom" Bralley, Jr., son of the late Thomas A., Sr., and Mary Bridges Bralley, attended George Wythe High School, was the football team's co-captain and a member of the All-New River District football team in 1969, and his name appears on the Sports Hall Of Fame monument in Withers Park; and

WHEREAS, a lifelong learner, Tom Bralley graduated from Wytheville Community College, attended various banking schools over the years, and earned advanced certificates from the American Institute of Banking; and

WHEREAS, a dedicated leader of the banking industry for 34 years, Tom Bralley was a regional executive of First Bank of Virginia and considered by his colleagues and customers as "The Banker of Southwest Virginia"; and

WHEREAS, Tom Bralley served as a member of the Wytheville Town Council for 14 years, 10 of those years as vice mayor, and as president and executive council member of the Wytheville-Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce; and

WHEREAS, a great mentor to young people, Tom Bralley was an adjunct faculty member at Wytheville Community College, where he taught banking and finance classes for 28 years and was the recipient of the Chancellor's Instructor Award for Workforce Services in 2006; and

WHEREAS, Tom Bralley initiated Performance, Learning and Arts for Youth and its P.L.A.Y. Fund—along with his longtime friend Farron Smith—to help increase children's learning through the arts; and

WHEREAS, Tom Bralley was invaluable in the establishment of the walking track and the Wall of Honor monuments at Withers Park in Wytheville; and

WHEREAS, Tom Bralley was a member of the Industrial Development Authority and chair of the Mayor's Task Force on Recreation, where he revised the recreation program; and

WHEREAS, committed to improving the quality of life of his fellow citizens, Tom Bralley gave his time and many talents to numerous civic organizations, including the Wytheville Jaycees, the Red Cross, the Wythe County Public Library, the Agape Food Pantry, Inc., and the United Way of Wythe County, and he was instrumental in the sponsorship of a benefit concert for the American Cancer Society; and

WHEREAS, Tom Bralley was honored by the Wilderness Road Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution with its Community Service Award in 2000 and by the Wytheville-Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce with its Stanley King Sr. Outstanding Citizenship Award in 2006; and

WHEREAS, Tom Bralley was a faithful member of the Wytheville Presbyterian Church and was active in the church's many missions in the community; and

WHEREAS, Tom Bralley was president and a charter member of the Stephen F. Austin Memorial Park in Austinville, a project which earned him honorary membership in the Sons of the Republic of Texas; and

WHEREAS, Tom Bralley will be fondly remembered for his kind and generous nature and greatly missed by his devoted wife, Joyce Dean Bralley; his daughter, son, and their families, especially his wonderful grandchildren; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a fine community leader and outstanding Virginian, Thomas A. Bralley, Jr.; and, be it

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