WHEREAS, the Honorable Thomas W. Moss, Jr., a distinguished community leader, attorney, and public servant who represented the people of the City of Norfolk in the House of Delegates as a former Speaker of the House, died on November 26, 2015; and WHEREAS, a lifelong resident of Norfolk, Thomas Moss graduated from Granby High School and earned a bachelor's degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; he honorably served his country as a member of the United States Army during the Korean War; and WHEREAS, after returning home, Thomas Moss earned a law degree from the University of Richmond and served the community as an attorney in private practice in Norfolk for many years; and WHEREAS, desirous to be of further service to the Commonwealth, Thomas Moss ran for and was elected to the House of Delegates and served from 1966 to 2000; he became House Majority Leader, and he was elected Speaker of the House in 1991; and WHEREAS, over the course of his career, Thomas Moss ably represented the residents of the 88th District; he enacted numerous important pieces of legislation and offered his wisdom and leadership to several committees; and WHEREAS, after retiring from state government in 2001, Thomas Moss was elected treasurer of the City of Norfolk and served in that capacity for more than a decade; and WHEREAS, an active member of the Norfolk community, Thomas Moss was a past president of the Young Democratic Club of Norfolk and the Tidewater Chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association and a former crusade chairman for the American Cancer Society; and WHEREAS, Thomas Moss earned many awards and accolades for his good work, including the German Club Alumni Foundation Distinguished Achievement Award; the downtown campus of Tidewater Community College and a research building at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University are named in his honor; and WHEREAS, Thomas Moss lived his deep and abiding faith through his actions, and he enjoyed fellowship and worship with the community as a lifelong member of First Lutheran Church of Norfolk; and WHEREAS, a man of great integrity, Thomas Moss served the Norfolk community and the Commonwealth with the utmost professionalism, dedication, and distinction; and WHEREAS, predeceased by one daughter, Susan, Thomas Moss will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his devoted wife, Norma Jean; children, Elizabeth, Thomas III, and Joey, and their families; and numerous other family members, friends, and colleagues; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of the Honorable Thomas W. Moss, Jr., a respected attorney, accomplished public servant, and devoted community leader in Norfolk; and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of the Honorable Thomas W. Moss, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory. |