SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 485 Offered February 2, 2007 Celebrating the life of Walter J. Scruggs. ---------- Patrons-- Norment; Delegates: Barlow, Hamilton and Rapp ----------

WHEREAS, Walter J. Scruggs, aged 83, an admired community leader and James City County developer, died on December 5, 2006; and

WHEREAS, a native of Appomattox, Walter J. "Jack" Scruggs was born on February 28, 1923, and moved as a boy to Farmville, where he grew up and went to school; and

WHEREAS, Jack Scruggs married his devoted wife of 59 years, Ruth Warwick Scruggs, in 1942; the newlyweds moved to James City County in 1943, and soon the young couple were separated when he had to leave to serve in the United States Navy during World War II; and

WHEREAS, after his military service, Jack Scruggs undertook numerous diverse careers, including boxing professionally, owning a construction firm, operating a dairy farm, and running a lumber mill; and

WHEREAS, Jack Scruggs retired as a District Forest Warden, serving the Commonwealth for more than 20 years, and then became James City County's first Animal Control Officer; and

WHEREAS, with a strong work ethic and keen business acumen, Jack Scruggs became a successful real estate broker/developer, the owner of Virginia International Realty, and was invaluable in the planning and development of the modern James City County; and

WHEREAS, Jack Scruggs served James City County in numerous key positions, including as a member of the James City County Planning Commission for 35 years and several terms as chairman; and

WHEREAS, an avid bird hunter and outdoorsman, Jack Scruggs raised and trained numerous breeds of bird-dogs, entered his dogs in national, state, and local Field Trial Association events, and judged bird-dog trials all over the East Coast; and

WHEREAS, Jack Scruggs operated a local shooting preserve, as well as a trap and skeet range, and was instrumental in establishing public wildlife areas throughout the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Jack Scruggs was a longtime member of the James City-Bruton Volunteer Fire Department and the James City Ruritan Club and a founding member of the Norge Saddle Club and Jamestown Academy; and

WHEREAS, Jack Scruggs will be fondly remembered as a pillar of the community and a loyal neighbor and greatly missed by his three children and their families, his six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, his brother Abner and his wife Edith, and the congregation of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a dedicated community leader and outstanding Virginian, Walter J. Scruggs; and, be it

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