NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1969 SESSION

RESOLUTION 119

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 910

A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING THE MEMORY OF JOHN H. KERR, JR., FORMER MEMBER OF THE SENATE, AND FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

WHEREAS, John H. Kerr, Jr., was born on May 19, 1900, in Warrenton, North Carolina, and died at the age of 68 on May 29, 1968; and

WHEREAS, John H. Kerr, Jr. was an able and distinguished man in all fields of endeavor in which he participated, having been awarded many academic honors and scholarly attainments while he was a student at the University of North Carolina, and having also distinguished himself in his chosen profession as a lawyer; he was possessed of an incisive and brilliant mind, skillful and able in forensic contests with a fine delivery and presentation to juries and with all possessed of a rugged intellectual honesty and loyalty to his clients; and

WHEREAS, John H. Kerr, Jr., was a loyal and faithful worker of his political party, having at one time been keynote speaker at his Party's Convention, and was an able debater and eloquent speaker and also exhibited on occasions a wonderful sense of humor and wit; he knew his own faults and limitations but never practiced any deceit or dishonesty; he loved his Country and State and was a steadfast and patriotic citizen; and

WHEREAS, John H. Kerr, Jr., devoted much of his energy and time to public service, having served as a member of the General Assembly for twenty-four years: as Representative from Edgecombe in the Session of 1929; from Warren in 1939, 1941, 1943, 1945, 1947, 1949, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1963, and as Senator from the Third District in 1955; he served as an efficient and effective Speaker of the House during the 1943 Session; and

WHEREAS, it was said of him that he could match oratorical talents with anyone in the General Assembly and when he rose to speak, everybody listened; in 1947 he gave a memorable speech for the legislation appropriating one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) to the State Art Museum, thus helping establish the Nation's first state-supported Art Museum; and

WHEREAS, he further dedicated himself to public service by serving on the Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina and in various capacities in civic organizations; and

WHEREAS, in 1928 he and Tyre Taylor founded the North Carolina Young Democrats' Clubs; and

WHEREAS, John H. Kerr, Jr., was highly regarded as an attorney, practicing first in Rocky Mount and then moving to Warrenton in 1929 where he practiced until his death;

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

Section 1.  That in the death of John H. Kerr, Jr., the State has suffered the loss of an able legislator and attorney and a distinguished citizen.

Sec. 2.  That a copy of this Resolution be spread upon the minutes of both the Senate and the House of Representatives and that a copy of this Resolution shall be duly certified by the Secretary of State and by him transmitted to the family of John H. Kerr, Jr.

Sec. 3.  This Resolution shall become effective upon its adoption.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 2nd day of July, 1969.