Bill Text: VA SJR173 | 2012 | Regular Session | Enrolled

Virginia Senate Joint Resolution 173 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Celebrating the life of Francis Nelson Crenshaw.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Passed) 2012-03-14 - Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ173ER) [SJR173 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2012-SJR173-Enrolled.html

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 173 Celebrating the life of Francis Nelson Crenshaw. Agreed to by the Senate, February 23, 2012 Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 2, 2012

WHEREAS, Francis Nelson Crenshaw, a nationally recognized attorney and much admired and respected leader in his community and profession, died on January 26, 2012; and

WHEREAS, born in Washington, D.C., Francis Nelson "Frank" Crenshaw graduated from St. George's School in Newport, Rhode Island; and

WHEREAS, after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Frank Crenshaw accelerated his college courses at the University of Virginia, graduating in 1942; and

WHEREAS, Frank Crenshaw then entered the United States Navy, serving primarily on the destroyer USS Patterson in the Pacific until the end of the war; for his service he was awarded the Bronze Star with four oak leaf clusters; and

WHEREAS, in June 1946, after discharge from the United States Navy, Frank Crenshaw entered law school at the University of Virginia, receiving his law degree in 1948, serving as president of the composite University of Virginia graduating class and a member of the Seven Society; and

WHEREAS, upon completion of law school, Frank Crenshaw came to Norfolk to practice law, becoming the senior partner of his firm in 1968 and retiring from active practice in 1997; and

WHEREAS, Frank Crenshaw served as general counsel for the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority for over 40 years, during which he assisted in the drafting of the Virginia Housing Authorities Law and successfully argued a housing authority case before the United States Supreme Court, winning a unanimous favorable decision from the Court; and

WHEREAS, Frank Crenshaw received the first-ever Distinguished Counsel Award of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, recognizing his national preeminence in the field of redevelopment and housing law; and

WHEREAS, active in many bar association activities, Frank Crenshaw served as president of the Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association, on the Executive Committee of the Virginia Bar Association, and was a Fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation and a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation; and

WHEREAS, Frank Crenshaw served as a member of the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners for 17 years and was president of that Board for almost seven years; and

WHEREAS, Frank Crenshaw was honored with the Eggleston/I'Anson Professionalism Award, the most prestigious award presented by the Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association, recognizing the highest achievements of legal ethics and professionalism; and

WHEREAS, Frank Crenshaw played an active role in the Norfolk community, serving on the Norfolk School Board for eight years, during which he was chairman for three years, his chairmanship coinciding with the state's Massive Resistance efforts to close the Norfolk schools; and Frank Crenshaw was instrumental in seeing to the reopening of the schools as integrated entities; and

WHEREAS, Frank Crenshaw was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Board of Visitors of Old Dominion University, a position he held for eight years, serving as rector of the University for three years; and

WHEREAS, Frank Crenshaw served for many years as a Sunday School teacher and member of the vestry at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Norfolk; and

WHEREAS, one of Frank Crenshaw's greatest talents was the mentoring of young lawyers, primarily those who worked in his firm but also other young lawyers wherever and whenever their paths might cross, passing along to his young prot�g�s the idea that, in doing their legal work, the attorney's first obligation was always to do what was in the best interest of the client; and

WHEREAS, Frank Crenshaw was a gentle, loving, and devoted husband, father, stepfather, grandfather, and great-grandfather and will be remembered for his kind and joyous nature and his loving heart; and

WHEREAS, a remarkable Virginian, Frank Crenshaw made many lasting contributions to the Commonwealth and will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Anne; children, Elizabeth, Page, and Marian, and their families; his numerous other family members; and a wonderfully wide circle of dear friends and professional colleagues; 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 esteemed citizen of Norfolk and the Commonwealth, Francis Nelson Crenshaw; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Francis Nelson Crenshaw as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory and appreciation for his selfless service to his country, to his clients, to the legal profession, and to public education in the Commonwealth.