WHEREAS, Byron M. Adkins, Sr., a lifelong resident of Charles City County, was appointed director of Charles City County Department of Social Services on December 27, 1977, as the first and only African American male to hold a director's position in the agency; and

WHEREAS, Byron Adkins has been actively involved in local and state affairs since 1967 and a member and leader of many civic organizations, including the NAACP, Civic League, Extension Leadership Council, Peninsula Trust Bank Community Board, Colonial Community Criminal Justice Board, Central Virginia Health Services, No Greater Love, Cross Gap Ministries, and St. John Baptist Church; and

WHEREAS, Byron Adkins graduated from Virginia Union University and Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work and completed leadership and management courses at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University as well as the University of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Byron Adkins has a lifelong professional commitment to social work, families, children, and adults, having worked for several years as a field instructor with Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work and as a member of the Virginia League of Social Services Executives; he was involved with the Virginia Department of Social Services' efforts to revitalize Community Action Agencies, instrumental in their implementation of the Comprehensive Services Act for At-Risk Youth and Families, and helped establish the local Community Policy and Management Team and Family Assessment Planning Team; and

WHEREAS, Byron Adkins gave back to the community as a youth baseball and basketball coach, and, for many years, he instructed a martial arts and self-defense class at no charge to students; and

WHEREAS, as director of the Charles City County Department of Social Services, he initiated the Brown Bag Program, which has been a valuable resource to the senior citizens of Charles City County for more than a decade and was recognized by the Central Virginia Food Bank/FeedMore as a Model Rural Agency Partner, Model Agency Partner-Elderly, and Outstanding Model Program; the program was also recognized with an Acts of Caring Award by the National Association of Counties, which acknowledges top volunteer programs in the country; and

WHEREAS, Byron Adkins provided administrative and financial guidance as the Charles City County Department of Social Services implemented an electronic case management system, while maintaining effective customer service and meeting established performance standards; he helped maintain community support for ancillary programs such as special welfare projects and Angel Tree; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure, Byron Adkins worked with more than 35 board members and celebrated the retirements of nine other staff members; he retired as the most senior director of a local social services department in the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Byron M. Adkins, Sr., on the occasion of his retirement as director of Charles City County Department of Social Services; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Byron M. Adkins, Sr. as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for his myriad contributions to Charles City County and the Commonwealth.