WHEREAS, the Honorable Ralph L. Axselle, Jr., a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates and a respected civic leader who has served the residents of the Commonwealth for more than 44 years, retired from Williams Mullen in 2017; and

WHEREAS, a native of Richmond, Ralph "Bill" L. Axselle, Jr., holds degrees from the University of North Carolina and the University of Richmond's T.C. Williams School of Law; in 1973, he ran for and was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates and ably represented the residents of Henrico County until 1990; and

WHEREAS, during his time as a state lawmaker, Bill Axselle introduced and supported numerous important pieces of legislation to benefit Henrico County and the Commonwealth as a whole; he also served on the Governor's Commission on Efficiency in Government and the Governor's Regulatory Reform Advisory Board during this time; and

WHEREAS, after leaving the state legislature, Bill Axselle joined Williams Mullen, becoming chair of the firm's State Government Group, and continued to offer his leadership and expertise to several state boards and commissions, including the Virginia Code Commission and the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council, among many others; he was named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly's 2014 class of Leaders in the Law, which recognizes lawyers for changing the law, serving the community, changing practice, or improving Virginia's justice system; and

WHEREAS, Bill Axselle has a long history of service with a wide array of civic groups at both the local and state levels, and he currently serves the community as chair of the Forum Club and as a member of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce's Regional Transportation Advisory Board and the Henrico Business Council Advisory Board; and

WHEREAS, during his well-earned retirement, Bill Axselle plans to spend more time with his beloved family and seek new opportunities to serve the community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Honorable Ralph L. Axselle, Jr., hereby be commended for his years of exceptional service to the Richmond community and 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 Honorable Ralph L. Axselle, Jr., as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for his legacy of contributions to the people of Virginia.