WHEREAS, Wesley Theodore Carter was born on August 22, 1907, in Richmond and passed away on June 25, 2012, at the age of 104, two months before his 105th birthday; and

WHEREAS, Wesley Theodore Carter, one of seven sons, graduated from Armstrong High School in 1925, earned his undergraduate degree from Virginia Union University in 1929, and earned his graduate degree from Columbia University in 1947; and

WHEREAS, an outstanding career educator, Wesley Theodore Carter taught science and mathematics and coached basketball and baseball at Alamance County Training School in Burlington, North Carolina; after returning to Richmond, he taught at Virginia Randolph High School and then at Armstrong High School for more than 40 years, where he also headed the school's audiovisual department and served as treasurer of the athletic committee; and

WHEREAS, Wesley Theodore Carter was a stellar college basketball player; he was Virginia Union University's oldest living alumnus and an avid fan of the university's sports program for more than 86 years, attending every road and home football and basketball game, including the last basketball home game with Bowie State University before his death; he could often be seen in his reserved seat in the stands of Barco-Stevens Hall during basketball season; and

WHEREAS, he was initiated into Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., on February 18, 1927, and until his death, Wesley Theodore Carter was recognized as the oldest living member of the national fraternity; living alone, independent, and completely self-sufficient, he frequently drove himself to the Virginia Union University campus and other destinations; at age 93, he returned to Virginia Union University to audit a class to learn how to use his computer and flew alone to Atlanta to the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity's national convention to receive an award as the fraternity's oldest living alumnus; and

WHEREAS, Wesley Theodore Carter received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Virginia Union University in 2008, and in that same year he was recognized by the United Negro College Fund as the organization's outstanding alumnus; he has also received numerous awards for his longevity of service to his fraternity, his many years of community service, and his distinguished career as an educator; and

WHEREAS, Wesley Theodore Carter, fondly known as the "grandfather of the campus," was loved by his students and the Virginia Union University family, and he will be remembered for his humor, wisdom, knowledge, strength, and great storytelling of the school's rich legacy and history; and

WHEREAS, Wesley Theodore Carter will be sorely missed and deeply mourned by his family, friends, colleagues, and all who knew and loved him; 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 Wesley Theodore Carter; and, be it

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