Bill Text: VA HR170 | 2013 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of Anthony David Blankley.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2013-02-15 - Bill text as passed House (HR170ER) [HR170 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2013-HR170-Enrolled.html
|
WHEREAS, Anthony David Blankley, who was born in London, England, on January 21, 1948, raised as a proud American citizen in Los Angeles, California, and was a resident of Great Falls for 21 years, died on January 7, 2012; and WHEREAS, Anthony "Tony" Blankley worked as a child actor in television and films in the 1950s, appearing in such TV shows as Lassie and Highway Patrol and playing Rod Steiger's son in the movie, The Harder They Fall; and WHEREAS, Tony Blankley solidified his commitment to conservative politics as a "Youth for Goldwater" during the 1964 presidential campaign and continued to engage in political debate as he earned his bachelor of arts in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles; and WHEREAS, after earning his juris doctor from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, Tony Blankley was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1972 and spent 10 years as a prosecutor with the California Attorney General's office; and WHEREAS, after coming to Washington, D.C., Tony Blankley served President Reagan in the White House as a policy analyst and speechwriter and at the United States Department of Education as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, initiating the reform campaign for the report on "A Nation at Risk"; and WHEREAS, in 1984 Tony Blankley married Lynda Davis, his beloved and devoted wife, and together they raised three cherished children, Spencer, Trevor, and Ana, in Great Falls, where they shared a 12-acre farm with a congenial menagerie of horses, sheep, peacocks, dogs, cats, and llamas; and WHEREAS, Tony Blankley and his family contributed much to the life of their community in Fairfax County, and Tony Blankley served as the speaker for the Great Falls Defense of Freedom Memorial 9-11 Ceremony; and WHEREAS, Tony Blankley served as press secretary to Newt Gingrich from 1990 to 1997, in which capacity he helped shape messages and policy and became one of the leading spokesmen for the Contract with America; and WHEREAS, after leaving the Speaker's office, Tony Blankley was asked by John F. Kennedy, Jr., to become a contributing editor and monthly columnist for George magazine to share both his knowledge and wit; and WHEREAS, Tony Blankley became a familiar presence on political talk shows on radio and television, most prominently on The McLaughlin Group, for which he was a regular panelist known for his incisive analysis and trademark tailored suits; and WHEREAS, in 2002 Tony Blankley began his service as The Washington Times' devoted and influential editorial and opinion page editor, a position he held through 2007; and WHEREAS, Tony Blankley also became one of the nation's most celebrated editorial writers, sharing his political and historical insights and brilliant writing with the nation through a syndicated column that was published in newspapers across the country; and WHEREAS, Tony Blankley was a sought-after confidant and a confidential advisor to conservative leaders at all levels of government; his heart wasn't limited to partisanship and his friendships stretched "across the aisle"; and WHEREAS, in 2007 Tony Blankley left his successful journalism career to serve as executive vice president for global public affairs at Edelman, the international public relations firm in Washington, D.C.; and WHEREAS, Tony Blankley also served as a Visiting Senior Fellow in National Security Communications at the Heritage Foundation; and WHEREAS, Tony Blankley authored the New York Times bestseller, The West's Last Chance: Will We Win the Clash of Civilizations? which Secretary of State Henry Kissinger called a " . . . thought provoking treatment of an important subject," and American Grit: What It Will Take to Survive and Win in the 21st Century; and WHEREAS, Tony Blankley appeared regularly on CNN, NBC, FOX, and several national commercial talk radio shows providing political commentary, including as a weekly contributor to the nationally syndicated public radio program, Left, Right & Center; he also lectured at many universities and institutes; and WHEREAS, in honor of Tony Blankley's life and service, the Steamboat Institute established a Tony Blankley Chair in Public Policy and American Exceptionalism to fund a scholarship in conservative studies; and WHEREAS, Tony Blankley's commitment to service included support of the National Council for Adoption and the Washington Humane Society, among other private endeavors; and WHEREAS, Tony Blankley, who died at 63 of complications from cancer, will be forever cherished by his wife of 28 years, Lynda; the three children he adored and admired, Spencer, Trevor, and Ana; his beloved sister, Maggie; and all his family, friends, and admirers who respected his honest and deep love of the treasures of life in America; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of a respected citizen of the Commonwealth, Anthony David Blankley; 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 Anthony David Blankley as an expression of the House of Delegates' respect for his memory. |
