Bill Text: VA HJR981 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of William Henry Anderson, Jr.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-25 - Failed to pass in House [HJR981 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2017-HJR981-Introduced.html
WHEREAS, William Henry Anderson, Jr., a peace activist and psychotherapist who served the University of Virginia for more than three decades, died on August 29, 2016; and
WHEREAS, a native of Varina, William "Bill" Anderson had a thirst for knowledge at a young age; he was one of the first African American students to attend Varina High School and later graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and the State University of New York at Stony Brook; and
WHEREAS, Bill Anderson joined the faculty of the University of Virginia as an assistant professor in 1981, then became director of training at the Counseling Center in 1985, where he served until 1996, when the center merged with Student Mental Health to form Counseling and Psychological Services, known as CAPS; and
WHEREAS, over the course of his 33-year career with UVA, Bill Anderson conducted individual and group therapy sessions, supervised clinicians in training, and provided outreach to the community; and
WHEREAS, as the University community grew and became more diverse, Bill Anderson focused his practice on the integration of spirituality and psychotherapy, multicultural issues, and sexual orientation, earning the Outstanding Service Award from the Serpentine Society for his service to LGBTQ students in the same year as his well-earned retirement in 2014; and
WHEREAS, highly respected in his field, Bill Anderson was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, the American Psychological Association, and the Association of Black Psychologists; and
WHEREAS, Bill Anderson was a passionate advocate for peace and equality throughout his life; he traveled to 15 countries on peace missions with vocal ensemble groups, such as Zephyrus and the Virginia Consort, and he chaired the Charlottesville Peace & Justice Center and was a life member of the NAACP; and
WHEREAS, guided by his faith, Bill Anderson was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Charlottesville and offered his wise leadership to the Episcopal Peace Fellowship, the Peace Commission for the Episcopal Church, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, and the Union of Black Episcopalians; and
WHEREAS, Bill Anderson will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his sister, Jacqueline Lawrence, and her family; and numerous 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 William Henry Anderson, Jr., an advocate for peace and a respected member of the University of Virginia community; 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 William Henry Anderson, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.
