Bill Text: VA HJR615 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of William H. Brown, Sr.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)
Status: (Passed) 2025-02-13 - Agreed to by Senate [HJR615 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2025-HJR615-Introduced.html
2025 SESSION
INTRODUCED
25106149D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 615
Offered February 6, 2025
Celebrating the life of William H. Brown, Sr.
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Patron—Obenshain
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WHEREAS, William H. Brown, Sr., an honorable veteran, esteemed law-enforcement officer, and dedicated public servant who made history as the Blacksburg Police Department's first Black police officer and police chief, died on January 24, 2025; and
WHEREAS, born in West Virginia and raised in Southwest Virginia, William “Bill” Brown graduated from the historic Christiansburg Institute in 1966 before serving his country with honor and distinction for two years in Vietnam as a member of the 9th Infantry Division of the United States Army, during which time he obtained the rank of sergeant; and
WHEREAS, Bill Brown joined the Blacksburg Police Department in 1970, broke barriers as the first Black police officer to serve in the New River Valley, and quickly rose through the ranks; and
WHEREAS, Bill Brown earned a bachelor's degree in human resources management from Bluefield College, attended the FBI National Academy at Quantico, and was subsequently appointed chief of the Blacksburg Police Department in 1994, a position he held until his retirement from the force in 2006; and
WHEREAS, over his tenure as chief of the Blacksburg Police Department, Bill Brown was instrumental in modernizing the department and enhancing its ability to both protect and serve the community; and
WHEREAS, Bill Brown advanced the law-enforcement profession through leadership positions with a number of organizations, boards, and commissions, including the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, the Blue Ridge Association of Chiefs of Police, and the governing council of the Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy in Salem; and
WHEREAS, Bill Brown made history again in 2008 when he became the first Black person elected to serve on the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors; and
WHEREAS, over two terms on the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, including time as chair, Bill Brown was indefatigable in his efforts to promote the health, prosperity, and well-being of the locality and its residents; and
WHEREAS, as a testament to his impact on the Montgomery County community, Bill Brown was presented various prestigious awards over the years by several notable organizations, such as the American Legion Post 182 and the Rotary Club of Christiansburg-Blacksburg; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of Bill Brown's accomplishments as a leader of and mentor to his fellow officers, the Blacksburg Police Department named its new police station the William H. Brown Building in his honor in 2022; and
WHEREAS, Bill Brown will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his loving wife of 55 years, Rebecca; his children, Patricia, William, Jr., Michael, and Timothy, and their families; and numerous other family members and friends; 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 William H. Brown, Sr., a beloved member of the Montgomery County community whose positivity, integrity, and legacy of service inspired all who knew him; 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 William H. Brown, Sr., as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.
