SJ 190 — Commending Edward E. Clark, Jr.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 24108211D I SENATE JOOfferedJOINT MarchRESOLUTION 1,NO. 20240 N Commending Edward E.

190 E N Commending Edward E.

––––––––––Agreed Tto Patrons––Headby andthe Suetterlein;Senate, March 6, 2024 R Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 7, 2024 O L longtime president of the Wildlife Center of Virginia, will retire in March 2024;

Delegate:andr and WHEREAS, a native of Flint Hill, Edward "Ed" Clark worked for some time as an educator at the L Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind in Staunton and, in 1979, embarked on his career in E conWHEREAS, Ed Clark honed his abilities as a nonprofit leader as the first official executive director D of what is now the Virginia Conservation Network and, in 1982, founded the nonprofit hospital for native wildlife that would become the Wildlife Center of Virginia;

Campbell R –––––––––– O WHEREAS, Edward E.

Clark, Jr., a distinguished conservation advocate and co-founder and longtime president of the Wildlife Center of Virginia, will retire in March 2024;

and D Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind in Staunton and, in 1979, embarked on his career inhU conservation as president of the Virginia Wilderness Committee;

and WHEREAS, Ed Clark honed his abilities as a nonprofit leader as the first official executive director of what is now the Virginia Conservation Network and, in 1982, founded the nonprofit hospital fEr native wildlife that would become the Wildlife Center of Virginia;

ande of the nation's preeminent training and WHEREAS, under Ed Clark's guidance, the Wildlife Center of Virginia has treated nearly 100,000 wildlife patients, trained more than 1,000 veterinary students and professionals from every veterinary S school in the United States and Canada and nearly 40 other countries, and informed millions of people through9 itsthrWHEREAS, in-personEd andClark onlineled programsthe Wildlife Center of Virginia's development of the first comprehensive E national wildlife health database in order to monitor the threat of emerging diseases among wildlife andR to investigate environmental and trainings;pathological issues impacting their health;

and WHEREAS, with Ed ClarkClark's ledsupport, members of the Wildlife Center of Virginia'sVirginia developmentstaff ofhave thepeer-reviewed firstjournals comprehensive to investigate environmental and pathologicalpublications; issues impacting their health;

andeasesandbreaking amongclinical wilJliferesearch and WHEREAS,numerous witharticles in WHEREAS, Ed Clark'sClark support,hosted membersmultiple oftelevision series over the Wildlifeyears Centeron ofPBS Virginiaand staffAnimal havePlanet 0and advancedappeared wildlifeon scholarshipnational throughprograms groundbreakingand clinicalchannels researchsuch as the TODAY show, Larry King Live, and numerousFox articlesNews into peer-reviewedpromote journalsthe work of the Wildlife Center of Virginia and publications;other conservation causes;

and WHEREAS, Ed Clark hosted multiple television series over the years on PBS and Animal Planet and appeared on national programs and channels such as the TODAY show, Larry King Live, and Fox News to WHEREAS, as a result of Ed Clark's tireless advocacy in the 1980s, the General Assembly voted to amend the Commonwealth's laws regarding the use of pesticides to better protect the health andanded to well-being of wildlife;

and WHEREAS, in his retirement, Ed Clark plans to remain involved in conservation efforts and to continueitntinue advocating for the protection of our precious wildlife and natural resources;

now, therefore, be :RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Edward E.

35Clark, itJr., 37co-founder commendand Edwardfuture E.president emeritus of the Wildlife Center of Virginia, on the occasion of his retirement;

Clark,and, Jr.,be co-founderit andpresentation futureto presidentEdward emeritusE. of the Wildlife Center of 38 Virginia, on the occasion of his retirement;

and, be it 39 RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Edward E.