Bill Text: VA HJR74 | 2016 | Regular Session | Enrolled

Virginia House Joint Resolution 74 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Celebrating the life of James O. Shaw, Jr., M.D.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2016-01-21 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ74ER) [HJR74 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2016-HJR74-Enrolled.html

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 74 Celebrating the life of James O. Shaw, Jr., M.D.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 15, 2016 Agreed to by the Senate, January 21, 2016

WHEREAS, James O. Shaw, Jr., M.D., a respected medical professional who dedicated his life to the service of others as the founder of the Lackey Free Clinic, died on July 29, 2015; and

WHEREAS, a native of the Commonwealth, James Shaw graduated from Varina High School and earned a bachelor's degree from Randolph Macon College and a medical degree from what was then known as the Medical College of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Shaw completed his internship and residency at Yale University and a fellowship at the University of California, San Diego, where he conducted cancer research at Scripps Research Institute; and

WHEREAS, after teaching pulmonary medicine at the University of Texas, Dr. Shaw returned to the Commonwealth to work in pulmonary medicine and critical care at Riverside Hospital for 16 years; and

WHEREAS, a man who lived his devout faith through his actions, Dr. Shaw was desirous to be of further service to members of the community; in 1995, he founded the Lackey Free Clinic to provide compassionate care and medical counseling to the less fortunate; and

WHEREAS, originally located in a vacant Sunday school classroom, the Lackey Free Clinic grew exponentially under Dr. Shaw's able leadership; in 2014, the clinic recorded more than 12,500 patient visits; and

WHEREAS, after being diagnosed with cancer in 1997, Dr. Shaw continued to support the clinic, serving as medical director until 2009 and seeing patients and attending board meetings for years afterward; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Shaw inspired other medical professionals in the region to follow his selfless example; the clinic has succeeded with the help of more than 450 volunteers, 14 part-time employees, and 16 full-time employees, who all work to ensure high-quality medical, dental, mental health, and specialty care; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Shaw will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife of 50 years, Cooka; children, Travis and Ashley, and their families; and numerous other family members, friends, and patients; 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 O. Shaw, Jr., M.D., the highly admired founder of the Lackey Free Clinic; 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 O. Shaw, Jr., M.D., as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.