SJ 371 — Commending the achievements of Ruth Coles Harris and Curtis C. Duke.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 23103362D I SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO.

371 NE Offered February 17, 2023 Commending the achievements of Ruth Coles––––––––––dColes Harris and Curtis C.

TN Patrons––McClellanAgreed to by the Senate, February 21, 2023 R Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 22, 2023 O WHEREAS, Ruth Coles Harris and Spruill;Curtis C.

Delegates:Duke were the first female and male Black certified L accounting field in the Commonwealth;

Bagby,and Clark,paving Maldonadothe andway Rasoulfor Rgenerations ––––––––––of professionals in the L WHEREAS, Ruth2021 Colesalso Harrismarked andthe Curtis100 C.year anniversary of the first Black certified public accountant E (CPA) in the United States, John W.

DukeCromwell, wereJr., the first female and male Black certifiedO public accountants from theNew Commonwealth,Hampshire, pavingwho thewas waylicensed for generations of professionals in thD1921; accounting field in the Commonwealth;

and WHEREAS,D 2021served alsohis markedcountry theas 100a yearmember anniversary of the firstUnited BlackStates certifiedArmy publicduring accountantWorld andA)War inII; the United States, John W.

Cromwell,and Jr.,School fromand New Hampshire, who was licensed in 1921C WHEREAS, aafter nativehis ofhonorable Louisa,military service, Curtis Duke graduated from GoochlandVirginia CentralState HighCollege, Schoolnow andVirginia EState servedUniversity, hisand countryearned as a membermaster's ofdegree thefrom UnitedNew StatesYork ArmyUniversity; during World War II;

and WHEREAS, after his honorable military service, Curtis Duke graduatedpursued froma Virginiacareer Statein College,education nowand Virginiataught at Kentucky State University,College and earnedan aassistant master'sprofessor degreeof fromaccounting; New York University;

andanditute, before joining the faculty of Virginia State University Ss WHEREAS, in November 1956, Curtis Duke pursuedpassed an examination in Richmond to become a careerCPA, 3 making him the first Black CPA in educationthe Commonwealth and taughtone atof Kentuckyfewer Statethan College50 andBlack whatCPAs wasin thenthe St.1 United States at the time;

Paul's Polytechnic Institute, before joining the faculty of Virginia State University as an WHEREAS, in November 1956, Curtis Duke passed an examination in Richmond to become a CPA, making him the first Black CPA in the Commonwealth and oneR ofCharlottesville fewerduring than 50 Black CPAs in the UnitedGreat StatesDepression; at the time;

andshe WHEREAS,graduated Ruthat Harristhe top of her class from what is thenow great-granddaughterVirginia ofState enslavedUniversity, personsbut andas grewa upBlack woman in Sthe CharlottesvilleSouth during the GreatJim Depression;Crow era, she was forced to travel out of state to further her education;

sheand graduatedWHEREAS, atafter thereceiving topa ofmaster's degree from New York University in 1949, Ruth Harris retWHEREAS, during her classnearly from48-year whatcareer, is7nowRuth VirginiaHarris Statewitnessed University,the butexpansion asof aVirginia BlackUnion womanUniversity's incommerce department into the SouthSydney duringLewis School of Business, and as the Jimbusiness Crowschool's era,first director, she wasoversaw f1rcedthe todevelopment travelof outthe ofschool's statecomprehensive tocurriculum furtherand hera education;significant growth in enrollment;

and returnedcertification to thebecome Commonwealth and joined the facultyfirst ofBlack Virginiafemale UnionCPA University;in Virginia;

andHarrisat WHEREAS,that duringtime, herthere nearlywere 48-yearstill career,fewer Ruththan HarrisBlack witnessedCPAs thein expansion of Virginia Union University's commerce department into the Sydneynation Lewis School of Business, and asfewer thethan businessfive school'sin first director, she oversaw the developmentCommonwealth; of the school's comprehensive curriculum and a significant growth in enrollment;

and WHEREAS, inover 1962,the hopingyears, toRuth motivateHarris andoffered inspire her students,expertise Ruthto Harrisseveral passedother acommittees two-dayand certificationcivic toorganizations becomein the firstCommonwealth Blackand femalearound CPAthe incountry; Virginia;

atupon thather time,retirement therefrom wereVirginia stillUnion fewerUniversity thanin 100WHEREAS,1997, overshe thewas years,named Ruthdistinguished Harrisprofessor offeredemeritus for her expertiseexceptional contributions to severalacaWHEREAS, otherthe committeesVirginia andSociety civicof 36Certified organizationsPublic inAccountants has developed a scholarship fund to honor the Commonwealthlegacy of these two trailblazing professionals by helping racially and aroundethnically theunderrepresented country;college students achieve their fullest potential;

uponnow, hertherefore, retirementbe fromit VirginiaRESOLVED Unionby /the 37Senate, Universitythe inHouse 1997,of sheDelegates wasconcurring, namedThat distinguishedthe professorGeneral emeritusAssembly forhereby hercertified exceptionalpublic contributionsaccountants toin /Virginia; 38 academia and the business community;

andand, 39be WHEREAS,itrtis theC. Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants has developed a scholarship fund to honor the legacy of these two trailblazing professionals by helping racially and ethnically underrepresented college students achieve their fullest potential;

now,Duke, therefore,the befirst itfemale commendand male Black RESOLVED FURTHER, That the achievementsClerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Ruth Coles Harris and the family of Curtis C.

Duke, the first female and male Black certified public accountants in Virginia;

and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Ruth Coles Harris and the family of Curtis C.