SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 509 Offered February 14, 2007 Celebrating the life of Gordon Wallace Shelton, Jr. ---------- Patrons-- Houck and Chichester ----------

WHEREAS, Gordon Wallace Shelton, Jr., of Fredericksburg, a dedicated community supporter, public servant, and conservationist, died on October 24, 2006; and

WHEREAS, a lifelong resident of Fredericksburg, Gordon Shelton graduated from James Monroe High School in 1942, bravely served his country in the United States Navy during World War II, and was the widower of Alma "Bootsie" Shelton; and

WHEREAS, for 30 years, Gordon Shelton owned and operated two electrical contracting firms until he was forced to retire after being involved in an automobile accident; and

WHEREAS, Gordon Shelton became involved in civic affairs, and in 1978, was elected to city council; he served on the Fredericksburg City Council for 24 years, with two periods as vice mayor, from 1993 to 1994 and again from 1998 until his retirement in 2002; and

WHEREAS, Gordon Shelton has received many awards for his excellent leadership over the years, including the 1978 Man of the Year by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the 1987 Garden Club of Virginia Award for Meritorious Achievement in Conservation, the 1991 Elks’ Distinguished Citizenship Award for Outstanding and Meritorious Service to Humanity, the 1994 E. Boyd Graves Award for excellence in historic preservation, the 2002 Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce Award, and the 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Fredericksburg City Council; and 

WHEREAS, committed to preserving the Rappahannock River and Fredericksburg's historical resources, Gordon Shelton successfully fought to stop milling and mining of uranium along the river, and he was a founding member of the Friends of the Rappahannock; and

WHEREAS, a tireless advocate for the city, Gordon Shelton was instrumental in negotiating with the County of Spotsylvania for the 1984 annexation of the 4.4 square miles that is now home to Central Park and Celebrate Virginia, which has stimulated economic recovery and brought prosperity to downtown Fredericksburg; and

WHEREAS, Gordon Shelton was also honored in 1998 by the Rappahannock Regional Jail Authority and in 2002 by the Rappahannock Solid Waste Management Board for his support on issues such as building a new jail, starting a regional landfill, and negotiating water and sewer issues with the counties; and 

WHEREAS, Gordon Shelton was a man who was forever asking questions, gathering information, and analyzing every aspect of public issues to ensure the best course of action for the City of Fredericksburg, and he said, "The thing I'd like for people to say about me when I'm gone is, He always did his homework"; and 

WHEREAS, Gordon Shelton will be fondly remembered for his strong work ethic, his sense of humor, and his caring manner and greatly missed by his three loving children, Gordon III, Michael, and Kathryn and their families, especially his seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, his numerous friends and colleagues, and the citizens of Fredericksburg; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a dedicated public servant and outstanding Virginian, Gordon Wallace Shelton, Jr.; and, be it

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