Saturday, March 27, 2010

The death of Congressman Stan Parris

Statement from RPV Chairman Pat Mullins....

"I was greatly saddened this morning to learn of the passing of Congressman Stan Parris. The Commonwealth of Virginia lost a great public servant, and I have lost a close personal friend. From his gallant service in the Korean War to his decades in public life, Congressman Parris will always be known for the way he always put country and Commonwealth ahead of self.

"I came to know Stan during his first run for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and I was immediately struck by his sense of humor and optimism, summed up in his first campaign slogan — 'Parris in the Springtime.'"

"Whether he was sitting on the Board of Supervisors, working in the committee rooms of the House of Delegates, or arguing his case on the floor of the House of Representatives, Stan was a tireless advocate for Northern Virginia. Anyone who uses the HOV lanes on I-395 or enjoys watching a sold-out NFL game at home owes Congressman Parris a debt of gratitude.

"His dedication to public service was matched only by his tenacity. Most freshman members of Congress would walk from public life away after suffering an electoral setback as serious as the one that befell Congressman Parris in 1974. But Stan came back, fought hard, and retook the 8th District, and held it for the GOP for another decade. From that first campaign in Fairfax to the impromptu debate with Jim Moran at city hall, I'm proud of every moment I was able to speak for and be associated with Stan Parris.

"We are all profoundly grateful for the life Stan lead, and for the time we were able to know him. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Martha, and his three children, Michael, Ann, and Susan."

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