HJ697: Commending Barry R. Lawrence.
WHEREAS, Barry R. Lawrence retired from the Henrico County Manager’s Office on September 1, 2020, after a successful and distinguished 28-year career; and
WHEREAS, Barry Lawrence grew up in the City of Norfolk, graduated from Maury High School, and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, while pursuing his master’s degree, Barry Lawrence served as an administrative analyst for the City of Suffolk and as a youth service coordinator and juvenile programs coordinator in the City of Portsmouth; he served as a research assistant for the Virginia Institute of Government at the University of Virginia in the fall of 1981; and
WHEREAS, after graduation, Barry Lawrence was appointed as the town manager of the Town of Purcellville, where he served for one year and two months; and
WHEREAS, in October 1983, Barry Lawrence was appointed as legislative liaison for the Prince William County, and in July 1985, he was promoted to assistant to the county executive for legislative affairs and served for one year and six months; and
WHEREAS, in December 1986, Barry Lawrence was appointed as the assistant director for the Virginia Association of Counties, where he served for one year and two months until being appointed acting executive director in January 1988; and
WHEREAS, after serving as executive director for the Virginia Association of Counties from April 1988 until June 1990, Barry Lawrence taught as an adjunct professor of political science at Randolph-Macon College, beginning in January 1991; and
WHEREAS, in July 1991, Barry Lawrence was appointed county administrator of Powhatan County, where he served for one year and four months, until he was hired to serve as Henrico County’s assistant to the county manager for board affairs in 1992; and
WHEREAS, in 1998, Barry Lawrence was appointed as clerk of the Henrico County Board of Supervisors; during his long tenure as clerk, the board considered over 7,895 agenda items, and he only missed six board meetings; and
WHEREAS, Barry Lawrence’s extraordinary job performance, carried out with humility and a passion for knowledge, made him a role model for municipal clerks throughout the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Barry Lawrence’s expertise in English grammar, coupled with his outstanding writing and organizational skills, allowed the Henrico County Board of Supervisors to conduct the county’s business in the most informative and efficient way possible; and
WHEREAS, through his pleasant personality, kind demeanor, and superb communication skills, Barry Lawrence built an exceptional rapport with Henrico County’s elected and appointed officials, agency heads, employees, and residents; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Barry R. Lawrence on the occasion of his retirement; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Barry R. Lawrence as an expression of the General Asssembly’s admiration for his service to the Henrico County community.