SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 205

On the death of Professor Thomas F. Blackwell.

Agreed to by the Senate, February 7, 2002
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 9, 2002

WHEREAS, Thomas F. Blackwell, an associate professor of law at the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, died on January 16, 2002; and

WHEREAS, a native of Texas, Thomas Blackwell was an honors graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington who earned his master's degree in philosophy from Duke University and his law degree, with highest honors, from the Duke University School of Law in 1986; and

WHEREAS, following law school, Thomas Blackwell practiced law in Dallas and taught as a legal writing instructor at Texas Wesleyan School of Law and as a visiting assistant professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law; and

WHEREAS, Professor Blackwell published a book of legal forms on disk for West Publishing Company and authored several articles in legal journals; and

WHEREAS, Professor Blackwell served on the Computer-Aided Law Instruction editorial board and on the board of the Association of Legal Writing Directors; and

WHEREAS, at the Appalachian School of Law, Professor Blackwell taught contracts, intellectual property, legal process, and the law office management practicum; and

WHEREAS, involved in his church and the Buchanan County community, Professor Blackwell was a devoted member of Buchanan First Presbyterian Church, where he was prominent in church music programs; and

WHEREAS, Professor Blackwell, who served on the board of Buchanan Neighbors United and on the Technology Committee of the Buchanan County Chamber of Commerce, was committed to serving the community and building relationships between the community and the Appalachian School of Law; and

WHEREAS, dedicated to his family, his profession, and his community, Thomas F. Blackwell will be remembered with great fondness and respect by the students and staff of the Appalachian School of Law and by the residents of Buchanan County; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the untimely passing of an invaluable educator, Professor Thomas F. Blackwell; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Professor Thomas F. Blackwell as an expression of the esteem in which his memory is held by the members of the General Assembly.