HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 134 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled January 8, 2008 Celebrating the life of Bruce H. T. Dallas, Sr. ---------- Patron-- Armstrong ----------

WHEREAS, Bruce H. T. Dallas, Sr., of Martinsville, a respected citizen and outstanding community leader, died August 26, 2007; and

WHEREAS, a native of Martinsville, Bruce Dallas was born on November 4, 1938, the son of the late Bruce Elgin Dallas and Kitty Mae Jones Dallas, and was a graduate of Albert Harris High School's Class of 1958; and

WHEREAS, Bruce Dallas married Shirley K. Dallas, and the couple enjoyed a long and happy marriage, had seven loving children, and cherished 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, over the years, Bruce Dallas represented his fellow residents on the City Council of Martinsville for two, four-year terms; participated in political activities on the local, state, and national level; and was an invaluable member of the Virginia Municipal League; and

WHEREAS, devoted to his community and his neighbors, Bruce Dallas gave his time and many talents to numerous civic and social organizations, including as a member and chairman of the NAACP's Area 8; as a director of the Virginia State Conference of the NAACP and the Central Piedmont Private Industry Council; as a member of the Martinsville-Henry County Leadership Network Group and the Martinsville/Henry County Voters League; as president of FOCUS, the Regency Charity Club, and the Martinsville Touchdown Club; and as founder and president of the West Martinsville Boys Club; and

WHEREAS, Bruce Dallas was also a member of the Gibraltar Lodge Number 1 and the Pittsylvania County Community Action Program; and

WHEREAS, always willing to extend a helping hand to his fellow citizens in need, Bruce Dallas was a faithful member of the Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church and was active in the church's many missions in the community; and

WHEREAS, Bruce Dallas will be fondly remembered for his strong family values and his kind and generous nature and greatly missed by his family, his numerous friends and admirers, and the citizens of Martinsville; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a fine community leader and outstanding Virginian, Bruce H. T. Dallas, Sr.; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Bruce H. T. Dallas, Sr., as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.