SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 368 Offered January 10, 2007 Prefiled January 9, 2007 Commending O'Neal Mercer. ---------- Patron-- Houck ----------

WHEREAS, O'Neal Mercer of Mayfield, an admired citizen and community advocate, is recognized for his longtime service to the citizens of Fredericksburg; and

WHEREAS, O'Neal Mercer was born in Essex County on June 23, 1940, but at age three he went to live with his aunt in Fredericksburg while his father, "Dick" Mercer, fought as an Army soldier in Europe during World War II; and

WHEREAS, after the war, O'Neal Mercer moved with his family to the Mayfield neighborhood, attended Walker Grant High School, and like his father, served his country in the United States Army, the only period of time he has spent away from his hometown; and

WHEREAS, growing up as a young black man in a segregated city, O'Neal Mercer, a compassionate advocate for persons in need, felt he "somehow was drawn to civic activities"; and

WHEREAS, O'Neal Mercer became actively involved in the issues of discrimination, school integration, and equality and served on the board of the NAACP's Virginia State Conference for 10 years; he was recruited by Citizens United for Action to run for elected city office in 1966 and was appointed to the Bi-Racial Commission of the City Council to address racial issues in 1971; and

WHEREAS, O'Neal Mercer's longtime dream had been to see a swimming pool built in Fredericksburg for everyone to enjoy, whether they were young, old, rich, poor, black, or white; and

WHEREAS, O'Neal Mercer fought hard to effect change by running for a City Council seat in 1972; even though unsuccessful, he maintained that the construction of a municipal swimming pool should be near the top of the City's agenda; and

WHEREAS, over the years, O'Neal Mercer has time and again championed difficult causes for the welfare of his neighbors, including the establishment of the region's first subsidized housing complex, Hazel Hill, and obtaining public transportation for Mayfield students to attend Hugh Mercer Elementary School; and

WHEREAS, O'Neal Mercer is particularly proud of his contributions as a member of an advisory  commission that helped bring about the first public school educational opportunities system for children with disabilities; the program allowed his son, who was born with cerebral palsy in 1952, to attend school; and

WHEREAS, after three decades of lobbying for his dream to come true, the diligence of O'Neal Mercer and other concerned citizens has paid off, with the opening in 2006 of the Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation municipal recreation center, which includes a swimming pool for all residents to enjoy; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly commend and congratulate O'Neal Mercer for his numerous accomplishments and his outstanding service to his community; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to O'Neal Mercer as an expression of the General Assembly’s gratitude for his longtime commitment to the residents of the City of Fredericksburg.