Bill Text: VA SJR408 | 2023 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending David L. Holmes, PhD.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-02-25 - Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ408ER) [SJR408 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2023-SJR408-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, David L. Holmes, PhD, Walter G. Mason Professor of Religious Studies Emeritus at The College of William and Mary, has greatly served the institution and the Greater Williamsburg community for more than 50 years; and
WHEREAS, David Holmes earned degrees from Michigan State University, Columbia University, and Princeton University and joined the faculty at The College of William and Mary in 1965; and
WHEREAS, David Holmes helped to found The College of William and Mary's modern-day religious studies department and became a well-known presence on the school's campus over his 48-year tenure with the school, retiring in 2013; and
WHEREAS, David Holmes' erudite yet humorous and engaging teaching style endeared him to countless students over the years, some of whom were inspired by his classes to become teachers in their own right; and
WHEREAS, David Holmes specialized in the religions of presidents of the United States and authored several acclaimed books, including The Faiths of the Founding Fathers, A Brief History of the Episcopal Church, and The Faiths of the Postwar Presidents: From Truman to Obama; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of his efforts in the classroom and the community, David Holmes received numerous accolades over the years, including two honorary degrees, the Thomas Jefferson Award from The College of William and Mary, and an Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the Commonwealth's highest honor for faculty at Virginia's public and private colleges and universities; and
WHEREAS, David Holmes recently authored Glimpses of a Public Ivy: 50 Years at William and Mary to preserve his memory of The College of William and Mary for posterity and to capture the spirit and character of this beloved institution; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend David L. Holmes, PhD, for his legacy of service to The College of William and Mary and the Greater Williamsburg community; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to David L. Holmes, PhD, as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for his contributions to the Commonwealth.
