HJ 656 — Celebrating the life of Carnis L. Poindexter.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 23103776D I HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO.

656 OfferedE February 10, 2023 N Celebrating the life of Carnis L.

TN Patrons––Rasoul;R Agreed Agreed to by the Senate, February 22, 2023 2023 O WHEREAS, Carnis L.

Senators:Poindexter, an honorable veteran, esteemed educator, beloved member of the L Roanoke community, and legendary tennis coach who opened doors for many young Black L stuWHEREAS, in the summer before his senior year at the former Lucy Addison High School in E Roanoke, Carnis Poindexter taught himself the sport of tennis;

Boysko,without Favola,access Howell,to Reeves,formal Spruilltraining or tennis clubs due to segregationist policies in place at the time, he relied solely on books and VogelindividualD Rpractice ––––––––––sessions WHEREAS,at Carnisthe L.local Springwood Park courts to develop as a player;

Poindexter,and anWHEREAS, honorableafter veteran,playing esteemedin educator,a belovedregional memberjunior ofdevelopmental theAmerican RoanokeTennis community,Association and(ATA) legendaryDowning, tennis coach who openedhelped doorsCarnis forPoindexter manyearn younga Blacktennis Dscholarship student-athletes,to diedwhat onwas Septemberformally 21,Arkansasr. 2022;

and WHEREAS, in the summer before his senior year at the former Lucy Addison High School in U Roanoke, Carnis Poindexter taught himself the sport of tennis;

without access to formal traininC or tennis clubs due to segregationist policies in place at the time, he relied solely on books and individual praWHEREAS, after playing in a regional junior developmental American Tennis Association (ATA) E tournament in 1957, Carnis Poindexter drew the attention of local dentist and tennis player Dr.

Downing, who helped Carnis Poindexter earn a tennis scholarship to what was formally Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical and Normal College, today known as the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB);

and WHEREAS, Carnis Poindexter went on to earn a bachelor's degree in health and physical education withH a minor in general science from UAPB and later a master's degree in biology from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University;

andandter a master's degree in biology from North Carolina 5 WHEREAS, while at UAPB, Carnis Poindexter won the ATA national intercollegiate singles E championship in 1959, was a singles and doubles finalist in the Southwest Athletic Conference in 1960, R and capped off his collegiate career by winning the ATA national intercollegiate tournament during his senior year in 1961;

and 5 WHEREAS, upon graduating, Carnis Poindexter served the country with honor and distinction as a member of the United States Army before embarking on a career as an educator in 1964 at the former Jackson P.

and 35 WHEREAS, through his tireless efforts and thoughtful guidance, Carnis Poindexter helped more than 36 25 student-athletes earn scholarships to play tennis at UAPB over his career, building a legacy that 37 continues to reverberate through the community to this day;

andander 38his career, building a legacy that WHEREAS, as a testament to his accomplishments on the court and his impact on the communities he served, Carnis Poindexter was inducted into the UAPB Hall of Fame, the VIA Hall of Fame, and the Roanoke Regional Tennis Hall of Fame;

in 2018, the tennis courts at the River's Edge Sports Complex in RoanokeWHEREAS, weremotivated namedthroughout thehis life by his faith, Carnis Poindexter Tenniswas Courtsa member of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in hisRoanoke, honor;serving as an elder and mentor for more than 50 years and receiving Man of the Year awards from the congregation several times;

and WHEREAS, motivatedpreceded throughoutin death by his lifeloving bywife, Vera, and his faith,son, Carnis, Carnis Poindexter waswill abe memberfondly ofremembered Fifthand Avenuedearly Presbyterianmissed Churchby inhis Roanoke,son, servingClifton, asand anhis elderfamily and mentorby fornumerous moreother thanfamRESOLVED 50by yearsthe andHouse receivingof ManDelegates, ofthe Senate concurring, That the YearGeneral awardsAssembly fromhereby note with great sadness the congregationloss severalof times;Carnis L.

and WHEREAS, preceded in death by his loving wife, Vera, and his son, Carnis, Carnis Poindexter will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his son, Clifton, and his family and by numerous other family members and friends;

now, therefore, be it note with great sadness the loss of Carnis L.

and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution respect for presentationhis tomemory. the family of Carnis L.

Poindexterfamily as an expression of theCarnis GeneralL. Assembly's respect for his memory.

Poindexter as an expression of the General Assembly's