Bill Text: VA SR60 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of Albert Earl Brooks, Sr.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2024-03-09 - Failed to pass in Senate [SR60 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-SR60-Introduced.html
WHEREAS, Albert Earl Brooks, Sr., an honorable veteran, accomplished civil rights activist, and active and beloved member of the Prince William County community, died on March 25, 2021; and
WHEREAS, born in Tabor City, North Carolina, Albert Brooks was raised mostly in Buffalo, New York, and served his country with honor and distinction in the United States Army; and
WHEREAS, Al Brooks went on to earn a bachelor's degree in social welfare, history, and law at the University of New York at Buffalo, working a variety of jobs at the time to support his family; and
WHEREAS, while in Buffalo, Al Brooks began his career as an advocate for equal opportunity and civil rights with a number of local programs designed to prepare African Americans previously denied employment for careers in the building trades; and
WHEREAS, Al Brooks' work promoting equal opportunity for all brought him to the Washington, D.C., area, where he would fulfill roles as an equal opportunity specialist and civil rights officer at the United States Department of Transportation, the Virginia Department of Transportation, and the United States Department of Labor over many years; and
WHEREAS, Al Brooks gave generously of his time to the community through leadership positions with a number of local organizations, including as director of the Dale City Sports Club, president of the Dale City Jaycees, and president of the African American Democratic Club of Prince William County; he was also a member of his local branch of the NAACP, the National Urban League, and the Prince William County Democratic Committee; and
WHEREAS, Al Brooks became a fixture in the community through the many hours he spent registering people to vote outside of the Department of Motor Vehicles in Woodbridge, where his encouragement led many to embrace their civic duty; and
WHEREAS, Al Brooks worked tirelessly in pursuit of his dream to improve representation for African Americans in seats of public office in Prince William County, canvassing on behalf of an untold number of local politicians over the years; and
WHEREAS, Al Brooks freely proffered the wisdom and expertise he gathered from years working alongside fellow civil rights pioneers such as A. Philip Randolph, becoming a link between older and younger generations of the movement; and
WHEREAS, preceded in death by his daughter, Al Brooks is fondly remembered and dearly missed by his loving wife, Barbara, his children, Alise, Albert, Jr., and Anton, and their families; and numerous other family member and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of Albert Earl Brooks, Sr., a treasured member of the Prince William County community whose life will serve as an inspiration to many for years to come; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Albert Earl Brooks, Sr., as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's respect for his memory.
