A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of john richard jordan, jr., former member of the general assembly.

Whereas, John R. Jordan, Jr., was born on January 16, 1921, in Winton, North Carolina, to John Richard Jordan, Sr., and Ina Love Mitchell Jordan; and
Whereas, John R. Jordan, Jr., graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science in 1942 and was awarded a Doctor of Jurisprudence with honors in 1948; and
Whereas, John R. Jordan, Jr., established a law firm in Raleigh, from which he practiced for over 50 years in the areas of banking and financial institutions and appeared before State and federal courts; and
Whereas, John R. Jordan, Jr., served as special counsel for the North Carolina State Banking Commission and the Banking Department of the Commonwealth of Virginia; and
Whereas, John R. Jordan, Jr., served with honor and distinction in the General Assembly as a member of the Senate for three terms between 1959 and 1964; and
Whereas, during his tenure in the Senate, John R. Jordan, Jr., focused mainly on education issues and was well‑known for refusing his per diem, salary, and special legislative license plate; and
Whereas, John R. Jordan, Jr., served on the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina for 24 years, longer than any other member in State history and, during that time, was chair for two terms; and
Whereas, John R. Jordan, Jr., served his profession in many capacities, including as a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, American Bar Association, International Bar Association, World Jurist Conference, and Judicial Conference of the United States Court of Appeals; and
Whereas, John R. Jordan, Jr., served on many boards and commissions, including the North Carolina Board of Social Services, Commission on Education Beyond High School, Commission on Medical Aid for the Aged, Commission for the Study of the Uniform Commercial Code, North Carolina Legislative Reappointment Commission, North Carolina Aquarium Society, North Carolina Community Foundation, and North Carolina Museum of History; and
Whereas, John R. Jordan, Jr., was active in a number of organizations, including the North Carolina Cancer Society, of which he was at varying times director, president, and chair; North Carolina Cancer Institute (trustee); Governor's Cancer Commission (member); North Carolina Medical Foundation (member); American Red Cross (chair of the State chapter); and North Carolina Division of the National Myasthenia Gravis Foundation (director); and
Whereas, John R. Jordan, Jr., was a member of numerous civic and fraternal organizations, including the Sphinx Club of Raleigh, Raleigh Host Lions Club, and Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity; and
Whereas, John R. Jordan, Jr., was also the recipient of many other awards and honors, including the Distinguished Service Award in Public Health, North Carolina American Cancer Society's National Gold Medal, and the University Award, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the State of North Carolina; and
Whereas, John R. Jordan, Jr., was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the North Carolina Bar Association in recognition of his long and distinguished legal career, and he was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law; and
Whereas, John R. Jordan, Jr., enjoyed writing as a creative outlet and had several political and historical articles published in various newspapers and other media and contributed to the Dictionary of North Carolina Biography; and
Whereas, John R. Jordan, Jr., was a passionate reader and collector of books; he established a library collection of thousands of books at his home in Raleigh and his former home in Winton and gifted hundreds of books to friends, colleagues, and educational institutions; and
Whereas, John R. Jordan, Jr., never forgot his hometown or its people and, throughout his lifetime, worked to enhance the life and culture in Winton by creating a foundation to benefit historical and cultural events in Hertford County, establishing the Century Post Office Museum in a building that served as an early rural post office and restoring the Colonial Kitchen Museum, the only building in town to survive destruction from Union troops in 1862; and
Whereas, John R. Jordan, Jr., was a member of First Baptist Church in Raleigh and served on the Diaconate of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church and Ridge Road Baptist Church; and
Whereas, John R. Jordan, Jr., died on March 9, 2016, at the age of 95; and
Whereas, John R. Jordan, Jr., is survived by his devoted wife of over 33 years, Brenda Moore Jordan, and a stepson, E. Scott Harlow; and
Whereas, John R. Jordan, Jr., is also survived by a daughter, Ellen Meares Jordan McCarren, and a son, John Richard Jordan III, from his first marriage to the late Patricia Weaver Jordan, and four grandchildren, John Richard Jordan IV, Jordan Patrick McCarren, Frances Marie Jordan Merchwart, and Katherine Buckley McCarren; Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly of North Carolina honors the memory of John Richard Jordan, Jr., and expresses its appreciation for his many accomplishments and the distinguished service he rendered his community and State.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly extends its deepest sympathy to the family and friends of John Richard Jordan, Jr., for the loss of a beloved family member and friend.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of John Richard Jordan, Jr.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 27th day of June, 2016.

	s/	 Daniel J. Forest
	 President of the Senate

	s/	 Tim Moore
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives