WHEREAS, James Bankhead Taylor Thornton Davies, a true Virginia gentleman, dedicated public servant, and Manassas native, died May 12, 2013; and

WHEREAS, in 1938, Bankhead T. Davies earned a bachelor's degree and went on to pursue a law degree from the College of William and Mary; and

WHEREAS, upon his graduation from law school in 1940, Bankhead T. Davies began his expansive law career as an assistant to Commonwealth's Attorney Lawrence Douglas; and

WHEREAS, fulfilling his civic duty, Bankhead T. Davies suspended his practice of law and enlisted in the United States Army, where he was deployed to the Pacific Theater during World War II; and

WHEREAS, after earning the rank of captain, Bankhead T. Davies was honorably discharged in 1946 and welcomed back to Arlington as an assistant Commonwealth's attorney; and

WHEREAS, upon his return from the war, Bankhead T. Davies met, fell in love with, and married Hope "Dixie" Cosby, and together raised three wonderful children; and

WHEREAS, in 1948, Lawrence Douglas and Bankhead T. Davies formed the firm of Douglas & Davies, where they both worked until Mr. Douglas' retirement in the mid-1950s; and

WHEREAS, Bankhead T. Davies continued as a solo practitioner of law until 1982, when his son, Bankhead Thornton Davies, joined the practice and worked side by side with his father for the next 25 years as named partners of Davies & Davies; and

WHEREAS, at the age of 90, Bankhead T. Davies retired from his practice after a successful career spanning 66 years; and

WHEREAS, a true Virginia gentleman, Bankhead T. Davies treated everyone he met with respect and maintained a truly positive outlook every day of his life; and

WHEREAS, service to others being an important component in his life, Bankhead T. Davies was honored by an appointment by Arlington Circuit Court Judge William L. Winston to serve as a Commissioner in Chancery, a title he retained for over 40 years before retiring in 2007; and

WHEREAS, Bankhead T. Davies took great pleasure in his 66 years of membership with the Kiwanis Club of Arlington, rarely missing a Wednesday meeting, and he was recognized for his long service in 2005 with the George F. Hixon Award; and

WHEREAS, Bankhead T. Davies took great pride in serving on the Arlington Salvation Army Advisory Board since its formation in 1951, and in 1988, he was awarded the Dynamic Force Award; and

WHEREAS, Bankhead T. Davies also had extensive involvement with the American Lung Association, with his dedicated service spanning over 80 years; he received many distinguished awards during this time, including the Douglas Southall Freeman award in 1987; and

WHEREAS, a lifelong member of St. George's Episcopal church, Bankhead T. Davies enjoyed fellowship and worship with the community; and

WHEREAS, predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Dixie, Bankhead T. Davies will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his three children, Hope, Vera, and Bankhead, and their families; and many 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 James Bankhead Taylor Thornton Davies, a dedicated public servant and respected member of the Commonwealth; 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 James Bankhead Taylor Thornton Davies as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.