HJ481: Celebrating the life of Archibald Alexander Sproul.


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 481
Offered March 6, 2006
Celebrating the life of Archibald Alexander Sproul.
Patrons-- Saxman, Cline and Landes; Senator: Hanger

WHEREAS, Archibald Alexander Sproul of Staunton, a decorated retired general in the United States Army, philanthropist, and true southern gentleman, died on July 2, 2005; and

WHEREAS, Archibald Sproul was born in 1915 at Locust Grove in Middlebrook, the Sproul family home since the late 18th century; graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1937; and enlisted as a private in the army in 1940 prior to World War II; and

WHEREAS, promoted to captain, Archibald Sproul led one of the first five companies to reach Omaha Beach in the assault on Normandy, where, despite being wounded several times, he rescued men from a landing craft, earning the Distinguished Service Cross for Valor, two Bronze Star Medals, and two Purple Hearts; and

WHEREAS, later in the war, General Sproul served on General Patton's staff and was one of the first soldiers to enter a concentration camp as it was liberated; and

WHEREAS, after the war, General Sproul became commander of the 116th Infantry and later the assistant commander of the 29th Infantry Division of Virginia and Maryland and remained active in the National Guard; and

WHEREAS, Archibald Sproul believed in serving his community and demonstrated this by serving on the vestry of Trinity Episcopal Church, the YMCA Board of Directors, the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center Board of Trustees, the Virginia Military Institute Board of Visitors, president of the United Way, and board member of Columbia Gas; and

WHEREAS, General Sproul was one of the original members of the Historic Staunton Foundation, one of the founders of the Frontier Culture Museum, and a lifelong member of the Staunton Rotary Club; and

WHEREAS, Archibald Sproul, former owner and operator of Poca Dot farm, was a devoted husband, loving father to three children, and grandfather to six grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Archibald Alexander Sproul valiantly served his country and in many ways strengthened the Staunton community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of a great patriot and Virginian, Archibald Alexander Sproul; 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 Archibald Alexander Sproul as an expression of the honor in which his memory is held by the members of the General Assembly.