WHEREAS, the Honorable George William Whitehurst, a dedicated public servant who represented the Second District of Virginia in the United States House of Representatives and a respected educator, was named the City of Norfolk's First Citizen in 2014; and

WHEREAS, the First Citizen of Norfolk is chosen annually by a group of Norfolk residents from nominations submitted by the general public; the First Citizen receives the Cosmopolitan Distinguished Service Medal from the Norfolk Club; and

WHEREAS, a native of Norfolk, William Whitehurst joined many of the other young men of his generation in service to the nation during World War II as a member of the United States Navy; after returning home, he earned a bachelor's degree from Washington and Lee University, a master's degree from the University of Virginia, and a doctorate from West Virginia University; and

WHEREAS, in 1950, William Whitehurst began his career at what is now Old Dominion University as a history professor; he was later appointed dean of students and served in that capacity from 1963 to 1968; and

WHEREAS, desirous to be of further service to the Commonwealth, William Whitehurst ran for and was elected to the United States House of Representatives, where he ably represented the Second District of Virginia from 1969 to 1987; and

WHEREAS, William Whitehurst supported and sponsored many important pieces of legislation and offered his leadership and expertise as a longtime member of the House Armed Services Committee and as a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct; and

WHEREAS, after retiring from public office, William Whitehurst served for a decade as a representative to the North Atlantic Assembly of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and for three terms on the Board of Visitors of the United States Naval Academy; and

WHEREAS, William Whitehurst currently serves as a Kaufman Lecturer in Public Affairs at Old Dominion University, where he teaches history and political science; a man of great integrity, he has served the Norfolk community and the Commonwealth with dedication and distinction; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Honorable George William Whitehurst on being named the City of Norfolk's First Citizen in 2014; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Honorable George William Whitehurst as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for his achievements and contributions to the Commonwealth.