SJ530: Celebrating the life of Adelard Lionel Brault.
Patrons-- Saslaw, Chichester, Colgan, Bell, Blevins, Cuccinelli, Deeds, Devolites Davis, Edwards, Hanger, Hawkins, Herring, Houck, Howell, Lambert, Locke, Lucas, Marsh, Martin, McDougle, Miller, Newman, Norment, Obenshain, O'Brien, Potts, Puckett, Puller, Quayle, Rerras, Reynolds, Ruff, Stolle, Stosch, Ticer, Wagner, Wampler, Watkins and Williams; Delegates: Albo, Amundson, Brink, Bulova, Callahan, Caputo, Eisenberg, Hugo, Marsden, Moran, Plum, Poisson, Rust, Scott, J.M., Shannon, Sickles and Watts
WHEREAS, Adelard Lionel Brault of Front Royal, a member of the Senate of Virginia representing Fairfax County for 18 years, died on February 13, 2007; and
WHEREAS, Adelard "Abe" Brault was born in Winsted, Connecticut, on April 6, 1909; he grew up in Washington, D.C., graduated from Gonzaga College High School in 1927, and earned a law degree from Columbus Law School, now part of Catholic University, in 1933; and
WHEREAS, Abe Brault established a private law practice in Washington, D.C., prior to America's involvement in World War II, but interrupted his career to serve his country in the United States Navy in the North Atlantic; and
WHEREAS, after his military service, Abe Brault opened a practice in Fairfax County in the early 1950s, specializing in the legal representation of insurance companies; and
WHEREAS, active in civic affairs and concerned with public issues, Abe Brault was president of the Fairfax County Bar Association and was appointed to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 1962, serving until 1964; and
WHEREAS, in 1966, Abe Brault was elected to the Senate of Virginia to represent the citizens of the 34th District, which included part of Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax; and
WHEREAS, Senator Brault was a respected leader and member of the Senate committees on Finance, General Laws, Privileges and Elections, and Rules, as well as chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee; and
WHEREAS, for many years, Abe Brault was a senior member of the Northern Virginia delegation, and he was an avid supporter of funding for the Washington Metro system, George Mason University, Northern Virginia Community College, and other legislation important to his constituents and the citizens of the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Abe Brault, together with his colleague Senator Omer L. Hirst—then the senior senator from Fairfax, developed the process used by both the House and Senate members of the Fairfax Delegation to determine judicial candidates for elections to the 20th Judicial Circuit, a process which was non-partisan and based solely on the merits of the candidates and that has resulted in uniformly unanimous decisions by the Fairfax Delegation; and
WHEREAS, also with fellow Senator Omer Hirst, Senator Brault was invaluable in shaping legislation and the necessary funding for the 13-mile Dulles Toll Road, built in 1984 to link Interstate 66 and the Capital Beltway with Dulles International Airport; and
WHEREAS, dedicated to improving the quality of life for all of the people of Virginia, Senator Brault was well known for his often blunt honesty and straightforwardness, and he was selected by his fellow members as the Senate majority leader, serving from 1976 to 1980; and
WHEREAS, Abe Brault decided not to run for re-election to the General Assembly in 1983 and was appointed to the State Board of Education in 1985 by Governor Charles S. Robb; and
WHEREAS, in 1991, the General Assembly renamed the Dulles Toll Road the Omer L. Hirst-Adelard L. Brault Expressway in honor of the two men who championed the construction of the Virginia highway; and
WHEREAS, throughout his distinguished career, Senator Abe Brault served the Commonwealth with vast experience and integrity and he will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Clarice Covington “Percy” Brault; his three children, Adelard L. Brault, Jr., Nancy Supples, and Mary Lynn Coleman; his nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; his colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both houses of the General Assembly; and the citizens of the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the loss of one of its revered members, Adelard Lionel Brault; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Adelard Lionel Brault as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.