Bill Text: VA SR130 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of Lawrence Melvin Smith, Jr.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-03-06 - Bill text as passed Senate (SR130ER) [SR130 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-SR130-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, Lawrence Melvin Smith, Jr., an accomplished educator and a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and member of the Manassas community; died on February 9, 2024; and
WHEREAS, after graduating from Sacramento State University in 1964, Lawrence "Larry" Smith earned a master's degree in parks and recreation with a concentration in outdoor education from Pennsylvania State University in 1970; and
WHEREAS, from 1973 to 1993, Larry Smith led the Recreation and Parks program at Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC), working tirelessly to foster his students' knowledge and appreciation for all aspects of the parks and recreation movement; and
WHEREAS, after retiring for several years to care for his aging parents, Larry Smith returned to NVCC as an adjunct faculty member and taught periodically until 2020; and
WHEREAS, in the early 2000s, Larry Smith and his wife, Sharon, established a bed and breakfast in New Market, where he would become an active member of the local rotary club and serve as mayor from 2008 to 2012; and
WHEREAS, Larry Smith relocated to Manassas in 2014 to be close to family and quickly became an active member of the community, serving with the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee and the City of Manassas Parks and Recreation Committee and as president of the Rotary Club of Manassas; and
WHEREAS, guided throughout his life by his faith, Larry Smith enjoyed worship and fellowship with his community at Trinity Episcopal Church in the City of Manassas; and
WHEREAS, Larry Smith will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his loving wife, Sharon; his children, Gary, Larissa, and Laryn, and their families; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of Lawrence Melvin Smith, Jr., a cherished member of the Manassas community who was a source of joy and inspiration to all who knew him; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Lawrence Melvin Smith, Jr., as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's respect for his memory.
