WHEREAS, Carl David Silver, a successful businessman, Fredericksburg area real estate developer, and exceedingly generous philanthropist, died on November 15, 2011; and

WHEREAS, a native of Ohio, Carl Silver lost his mother, Yetta, at a young age, but his father, Max, a Polish immigrant, possessed an optimism for life that inspired and sustained Carl and his siblings as the family relocated to Tappahannock; and

WHEREAS, at the age of 18, Carl Silver enlisted in the United States Army, landing in Normandy in July 1944 and earning a Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, and other military decorations after he received shrapnel wounds from artillery fire in 1945; and

WHEREAS, after returning to Tappahannock, Carl Silver opened his own business and one year later moved to Fredericksburg, where he purchased a car dealership; and

WHEREAS, in 1949, Carl Silver married Maxine Lyons, beginning a 62-year marriage marked by great love and mutual devotion; and

WHEREAS, during the 1950s, Carl Silver purchased other car dealerships and partnered with two other businessmen to open the Fredericksburg Auto Auction, while also purchasing land around Interstate 95; and

WHEREAS, Carl Silver developed numerous sites in Spotsylvania and Stafford Counties and the City of Fredericksburg that have contributed greatly to the economic development and vitality of that area of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, from his father, Carl Silver learned the value of hard work and visionary thinking; as he lived out the American dream, he looked to the community that had helped him in his endeavors and generously shared the fruits of his labors with numerous individuals, organizations, and institutions; and

WHEREAS, a stalwart supporter of the Mary Washington Hospital Foundation, Carl Silver served on the board of trustees and executive committee for several years and was named an honorary board member in 2005 in recognition of his distinguished service; and

WHEREAS, Carl Silver, along with his wife, Maxine, donated the property where the Cancer Center of Virginia, Chancellor's Village, and Carriage Hill Health & Rehab Center are located; and

WHEREAS, Carl Silver received numerous awards and accolades for his community service, including the Distinguished Service Award from the Mary Washington Hospital Foundation, the Fredericksburg-Stafford-Spotsylvania Chamber of Commerce Citizenship Award, and a proclamation from the City of Fredericksburg; and

WHEREAS, predeceased by his beloved daughter, Loisann, Carl Silver will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Maxine; son, Larry and his wife, Deborah; grandchildren, Spencer and Madison; and his numerous other family members, friends, and admirers; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of an outstanding Virginian, Carl David Silver; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Carl David Silver as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.