HJ5056: Celebrating the life of the Honorable Asbury Christian Compton.


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5056
Offered May 10, 2006
Celebrating the life of the Honorable Asbury Christian Compton.

Patrons-- Peace, Athey, Bell, Byron, Callahan, Cole, Cosgrove, Dudley, Fralin, Frederick, Gear, Gilbert, Griffith, Hamilton, Hugo, Iaquinto, Janis, Jones, S.C., Kilgore, Landes, Lingamfelter, Lohr, McQuigg, Morgan, O'Bannon, Oder, Purkey, Putney, Rapp, Scott, E.T., Sherwood, Tata, Wardrup, Welch, Wittman and Wright

WHEREAS, Asbury Christian Compton, native of Hanover County and respected former Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, died on April 9, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Christian Compton was born on October 24, 1929, grew up in the Town of Ashland, and attended Ashland High School; and

WHEREAS, Christian Compton earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1950 and a law degree in 1953 from Washington and Lee University and received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University in 1975; and

WHEREAS, Christian Compton served his country in the United States Navy on active duty as a commissioned officer from 1953 to 1956, and continued his service in the United States Navy Reserve until 1961; and

WHEREAS, Christian Compton was in practice with the law firm of May, Garrett, Miller, Newman and Compton in Richmond from 1957 to 1966; and

WHEREAS, an excellent attorney, Christian Compton was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Law and Equity Court of the City of Richmond on July 1, 1966, and was elected for a regular term in 1971; and

WHEREAS, in September 1974, Judge Compton was appointed by Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr., and elected by the General Assembly to serve on the Supreme Court of Virginia, serving until his retirement in February 2000, when he began service as a Senior Justice; and

WHEREAS, during his time on the bench, Justice Compton built an enviable reputation for his exceptional legal acumen and vast experience and earned the highest admiration and respect from colleagues, attorneys and courthouse staff, and the citizens of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, committed to improving the quality of life of all of his fellow citizens in his birthplace of Hanover County, Justice Compton gave generously of his time and immense talents to countless professional, civic, and church organizations; and

WHEREAS, Justice Compton will be fondly remembered for his kindness and generosity to all who knew him and for his great sense of justice and dedication to the law; and

WHEREAS, Justice Compton will be missed by his devoted wife of 52 years, Betty Stephenson Compton, his three daughters and their families, and the people of Hanover County and the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the loss of a fine jurist and outstanding Virginian, the Honorable Asbury Christian Compton; 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 the Honorable Asbury Christian Compton as an expression of the high regard in which his memory is held by the members of the General Assembly.