WHEREAS, Baxley Trower Tankard, an esteemed lawyer and longtime resident of the Eastern Shore, died on January 26, 2013; and WHEREAS, born in 1913, Baxley Tankard credited much of his success and happiness to his early life in Franktown, where he attended Franktown-Nassawadox High School, worked on the family farm, and began a lifelong membership in Franktown United Methodist Church; and WHEREAS, Baxley Tankard received a bachelor's degree from Randolph-Macon College in 1935 and a law degree from the University of Virginia in 1938; putting his law career on hold, he served his country as a United States Navy commander during World War II; and WHEREAS, returning to the Commonwealth after the war, Baxley Tankard followed his calling and opened a small practice in Eastville, focusing on real estate law, probate, and trial work; and WHEREAS, describing himself as a "country lawyer," Baxley Tankard gained a reputation for being civil, trustworthy, and highly knowledgeable; and WHEREAS, Baxley Tankard greatly enjoyed studying titles and historic records and amassed a legendary knowledge of the people and the places of the Eastern Shore; and WHEREAS, throughout his storied career, Baxley Tankard served as a Commonwealth's Attorney for 16 years, acted as legal counsel to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Commission, and was the attorney for Accomack and Northampton Electric Cooperative for over 60 years; and WHEREAS, Baxley Tankard also served the community as a past president of the People's Trust Bank in Exmore; a past president of Northampton-Accomack Memorial Hospital, now known as Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital; and a member of the local Rotary Club; and WHEREAS, after his retirement from a 74-year law career in 2012, the Virginia State Bar recognized Baxley Tankard as its longest-serving member; and WHEREAS, Baxley Tankard was an avid fan of the University of Virginia Cavaliers and also enjoyed clamming, boating, and bird hunting at "Pine Cove," his home on Warehouse Creek; and WHEREAS, predeceased by his first wife, Ann, Baxley Tankard is survived and will be missed by his beloved wife, Elizabeth, 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 an accomplished lawyer and respected resident of the Eastern Shore, Baxley Trower Tankard; 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 Baxley Trower Tankard as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory. |