SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 54 Celebrating the life of Alexander E. Strawn, Sr.   Agreed to by the Senate, January 17, 2008 Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 25, 2008  

WHEREAS, Alexander E. Strawn, Sr., of Hampton, a respected citizen and former longtime dean of student affairs at Hampton University, died on September 1, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Alexander Strawn was born on July 5, 1925, in St. Joseph, Missouri, the son of the late Dr. Estil Y. Strawn and Ruth Endicott Strawn; and

WHEREAS, Alexander Strawn received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri; earned a master’s degree in personnel and guidance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and was a doctoral candidate at Ohio State University; and

WHEREAS, on January 24, 1951, Alexander Strawn married his one and only love, Juanita Mae Fisher from Tyler, Texas, and the couple have two wonderful children, Alex Jr. and Stacey; and

WHEREAS, Alexander Strawn began his distinguished career teaching at Texas College in Tyler and then Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins, Texas; and

WHEREAS, a dedicated educator and a tireless advocate for his students, Alexander Strawn moved to Virginia and joined what is now Hampton University, where he served as the dean of student activities from 1964 until his retirement in 1993; and

WHEREAS, Alexander Strawn’s beloved wife Juanita was also a professor at the university, and together, the couple provided their students, colleagues, and everyone they knew with an exemplary model of giving, love, and companionship; and

WHEREAS, Alexander Strawn’s greatest passion was to help children achieve their dreams, and after his retirement from Hampton University, he spent countless hours tutoring elementary students in the Hampton Public Schools so they might excel and realize a college education; and

WHEREAS, a firm believer in providing a quality education for all of Virginia’s children, Alexander Strawn received many accolades over the years for his outstanding commitment to education and his community; and

WHEREAS, Alexander Strawn was an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and numerous other education and professional organizations on the state and local level; and

WHEREAS, a lifetime deacon at Hampton University’s Memorial Chapel, Alexander Strawn was foremost a faithful member of Carver Memorial Presbyterian Church, where he was active in the church’s ministry and a member of the men’s choir; and

WHEREAS, Alexander Strawn touched the lives of countless young people throughout his life and career and will be fondly remembered for his sincere and patient mentoring of hundreds of Hampton University students and public school children; and

WHEREAS, Alexander Strawn will be greatly missed by his wife Juanita, son Alexander, daughter Stacey and her husband Stephen, and granddaughter Zoe Olivia; numerous other loving family and friends; his Hampton University family; and the citizens of Hampton Roads; 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, Alexander E. Strawn, Sr.; and, be it

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

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 54 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled January 8, 2008 Celebrating the life of Alexander E. Strawn, Sr. ---------- Patron-- Locke ----------

WHEREAS, Alexander E. Strawn, Sr., of Hampton, a respected citizen and former longtime dean of student affairs at Hampton University, died on September 1, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Alexander Strawn was born on July 5, 1925, in St. Joseph, Missouri, the son of the late Dr. Estil Y. Strawn and Ruth Endicott Strawn; and

WHEREAS, Alexander Strawn received a bachelor's degree in sociology from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri; earned a master's degree in personnel and guidance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and was a doctoral candidate at Ohio State University; and

WHEREAS, on January 24, 1951, Alexander Strawn married his one and only love, Juanita Mae Fisher from Tyler, Texas, and the couple have two wonderful children, Alex Jr. and Stacey; and

WHEREAS, Alexander Strawn began his distinguished career teaching at Texas College in Tyler and then Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins, Texas; and

WHEREAS, a dedicated educator and a tireless advocate for his students, Alexander Strawn moved to Virginia and joined what is now Hampton University, where he served as the dean of student activities from 1964 until his retirement in 1993; and

WHEREAS, Alexander Strawn's beloved wife Juanita was also a professor at the university, and together, the couple provided their students, colleagues, and everyone they knew with an exemplary model of giving, love, and companionship; and

WHEREAS, Alexander Strawn's greatest passion was to help children achieve their dreams, and after his retirement from Hampton University, he spent countless hours tutoring elementary students in the Hampton Public Schools so they might excel and realize a college education; and

WHEREAS, a firm believer in providing a quality education for all of Virginia's children, Alexander Strawn received many accolades over the years for his outstanding commitment to education and his community; and

WHEREAS, Alexander Strawn was an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and numerous other education and professional organizations on the state and local level; and

WHEREAS, a lifetime deacon at Hampton University's Memorial Chapel, Alexander Strawn was foremost a faithful member of Carver Memorial Presbyterian Church, where he was active in the church's ministry and a member of the men's choir; and

WHEREAS, Alexander Strawn touched the lives of countless young people throughout his life and career and will be fondly remembered for his sincere and patient mentoring of hundreds of Hampton University students and public school children; and

WHEREAS, Alexander Strawn will be greatly missed by his wife Juanita, son Alexander, daughter Stacey and her husband Stephen, and granddaughter Zoe Olivia; numerous other loving family and friends; his Hampton University family; and the citizens of Hampton Roads; 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, Alexander E. Strawn, Sr.; and, be it

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