Bill Text: VA SJR314 | 2017 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending Michael Lester Lipford.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-01-27 - Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ314ER) [SJR314 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2017-SJR314-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, Michael Lester Lipford began his career more than 30 years ago as the first director of the Virginia Natural Heritage Program, a division of the Department of Conservation and Recreation; and
WHEREAS, Michael Lipford went on to become the executive director of the Virginia Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and served in that capacity for more than 25 years; and
WHEREAS, through his work at TNC, Michael Lipford has helped protect more than 350,000 acres of land and some of Virginia's special and unique places for future generations; and
WHEREAS, Michael Lipford's love of Virginia helped him inspire others to take on incredible challenges, such as bringing back rare freshwater mussels or Virginia's rarest bird, the red-cockaded woodpecker; restoring the seagrass, oysters, and scallops of the coastal bays protected by Virginia's barrier islands; and assuming ownership and management of the Virginia Coast Reserve, the longest coastal wilderness on the East Coast of the United States; and
WHEREAS, Michael Lipford grew the Virginia Chapter of TNC from a small staff of six to a staff of more than 60 in offices in Abingdon, Hot Springs, Charlottesville, Richmond, Arlington, Nassawadox, and Wakefield; and
WHEREAS, Michael Lipford's work can be seen in every corner of the Commonwealth from Warm Springs Mountain down to the Clinch Valley, from the Southern Pine Forests up to Dragon Run, and from Virginia's Eastern Shore out into the Mid-Atlantic; and
WHEREAS, Michael Lipford has accepted a new challenge and position as the division director of the Douthern United States for TNC, but he will continue to call Virginia home; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Michael Lester Lipford for his 30 years of service to the Commonwealth as a conservationist; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Michael Lester Lipford as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for his work on behalf of his beloved Virginia.
