University of Virginia Library

RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE RECTOR

WHEREAS, John P. Ackerly, III, a native Lexingtonian who was raised partly in Richmond, took his B.A. from the University in 1957 and his L.L.B. in 1960; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ackerly began his long years of service to the University while he was a student as a leader among his peers, service that was recognized when he was given the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award when he graduated from the College; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ackerly showed great good sense in marrying Mary Marshall Wall of Richmond; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ackerly returned to Richmond in 1960 and began a distinguished career in the practice of the law; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ackerly has served his church, his city and his state as an active member of numerous boards and commissions; and

WHEREAS, over the years Mr. Ackerly has honed two of his interests — the strategies of General Thomas J. Jackson in the Valley of Virginia during the Civil War and the relentless pursuit of groundhogs — to the point where he is recognized as an authority on Stonewall Jackson's Valley campaigns and on the hunting of groundhogs; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ackerly was appointed to the Board of Visitors by Governor Allen in 1995 and re-appointed by Governor Gilmore in 1999; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ackerly was elected Rector by his colleagues on the Board in 1998 and re-elected in 2002; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ackerly's tenure as Rector has been distinguished above all by his integrity and by his successful efforts at building consensus not only on the Board but in the University community as a whole; and

WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Ackerly have been tireless in their support of a truly staggering variety of University activities, spending almost as much time in Charlottesville as in Richmond during the last eight years; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ackerly's terms both as a Member of the Board and as Rector expire on March 1, 2003;

RESOLVED that the Board of Visitors thanks John P. Ackerly, III and Mary Wall Ackerly for their devoted service to the Board and to the University;

RESOLVED FURTHER that the Board expresses special appreciation to Mr. Ackerly as a friend, colleague and leader on this, the occasion of the last meeting of the Board of Visitors over which he will preside.

On motion, the meeting was adjourned at 11:10 a.m.