SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 14 Celebrating the life of William H. Wright.   Agreed to by the Senate, January 17, 2008 Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 25, 2008  

WHEREAS, William H. Wright, a respected citizen and an outstanding professor and coach at Norfolk State University, died on April 24, 2007; and

WHEREAS, William Wright was born on December 28, 1928, in Williamsburg to the late Harry Bencross Wright and Elsie Bowman Wright; and

WHEREAS, William Wright graduated from Bruton Heights School in 1945, received a bachelor’s degree from what is now Virginia State University in 1949, and earned a doctoral degree from Columbia University in 1971; and

WHEREAS, from 1951 to 1953, William Wright served his country as a personnel sergeant major in the United States Army Air Force in Osan, Korea; and

WHEREAS, William Wright began a remarkable 42-year career as a teacher and coach, first for the Mecklenburg County Public Schools at South Hill High School, and then for the Fredericksburg City Public Schools at Walker-Grant High School; and

WHEREAS, William Wright went on to coach track and wrestling at Norfolk State University, serve as athletic director, and organize and run the nationally recognized Norfolk Invitational Relays track meet; and

WHEREAS, a hardworking professor committed to providing excellence in education for the young people of the Commonwealth, William Wright served on numerous college and university accreditation teams and devoted many hours of service to state and national education organizations; and

WHEREAS, William Wright retired in 1991 from Norfolk State University as head of its Department of Physical Education and Recreation and assistant dean of the School of Education; and

WHEREAS, William Wright was active in the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity for more than 50 years and was a member of the Virginia State College chapter, an organizer and faculty advisor for the Norfolk State University chapter, and an esteemed member of the graduate chapter; and

WHEREAS, William Wright was a faithful member of the Bank Street Memorial Baptist Church, a longtime member of the Senior Choir and the Men’s Choir, and an active participant in the church’s many missions in the community; and

WHEREAS, William Wright will be remembered for his many talents and generous works and greatly missed by his devoted wife Lillian; his loving children, granddaughter, and numerous family members and friends; and his students and colleagues at Norfolk State University; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a fine educator and outstanding Virginian, William H. Wright; and, be it

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

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 14 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled December 17, 2007 Celebrating the life of William H. Wright. ---------- Patron-- Miller, Y.B. ----------

WHEREAS, William H. Wright, a respected citizen and an outstanding professor and coach at Norfolk State University, died on April 24, 2007; and

WHEREAS, William Wright was born on December 28, 1928, in Williamsburg to the late Harry Bencross Wright and Elsie Bowman Wright; and

WHEREAS, William Wright graduated from Bruton Heights School in 1945, received a bachelor's degree from what is now Virginia State University in 1949, and earned a doctoral degree from Columbia University in 1971; and

WHEREAS, from 1951 to 1953, William Wright served his country as a personnel sergeant major in the United States Army Air Force in Osan, Korea; and

WHEREAS, William Wright began a remarkable 42-year career as a teacher and coach, first for the Mecklenburg County Public Schools at South Hill High School, and then for the Fredericksburg City Public Schools at Walker-Grant High School; and

WHEREAS, William Wright went on to coach track and wrestling at Norfolk State University, serve as athletic director, and organize and run the nationally recognized Norfolk Invitational Relays track meet; and

WHEREAS, a hardworking professor committed to providing excellence in education for the young people of the Commonwealth, William Wright served on numerous college and university accreditation teams and devoted many hours of service to state and national education organizations; and

WHEREAS, William Wright retired in 1991 from Norfolk State University as head of its Department of Physical Education and Recreation and assistant dean of the School of Education; and

WHEREAS, William Wright was active in the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity for more than 50 years and was a member of the Virginia State College chapter, an organizer and faculty advisor for the Norfolk State University chapter, and an esteemed member of the graduate chapter; and

WHEREAS, William Wright was a faithful member of the Bank Street Memorial Baptist Church, a longtime member of the Senior Choir and the Men's Choir, and an active participant in the church's many missions in the community; and

WHEREAS, William Wright will be remembered for his many talents and generous works and greatly missed by his devoted wife Lillian; his loving children, granddaughter, and numerous family members and friends; and his students and colleagues at Norfolk State University; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a fine educator and outstanding Virginian, William H. Wright; and, be it

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