2025 SESSION

ENROLLED

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 627

Celebrating the life of Robert Arthur Young, Ph.D.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 17, 2025

Agreed to by the Senate, February 19, 2025

WHEREAS, Robert Arthur Young, Ph.D., an accomplished real estate developer and community activist who left a meaningful imprint on the City of Falls Church over the past 25 years, died on November 18, 2024; and

WHEREAS, born in La Jolla, California, Robert “Bob” Arthur Young, Ph.D., earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1964 before completing both a master's degree and doctoral degree in international relations at the University of Southern California in 1966 and 1970, respectively; and

WHEREAS, Bob Young dedicated several years of his career to the United States Department of Defense, receiving an appointment to serve as special assistant within the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in 1975, followed by the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 1977; and

WHEREAS, in 1978, Bob Young established his real estate firm, The Young Group, which has spearheaded many iconic and notable mixed-use, commercial, and residential developments throughout McLean and Falls Church over the past half-century; and

WHEREAS, Bob Young garnered various accolades over his career for his accomplishments as a developer, including the Urban Land Institute's 2019 Excellence in Residential Development award, the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association's 2020 Red Clay Award for Development of the Year, and the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce's Pillar of the Community award; and

WHEREAS, Bob Young's commitment to the growth and prosperity of Falls Church led him to pursue many endeavors that would benefit others, including founding the Falls Church Education Foundation and serving as chair of the Falls Church Economic Development Authority; and

WHEREAS, Bob Young was deeply committed to preserving and enhancing affordable housing in Falls Church, advancing this endeavor through his work with the Falls Church Housing Corporation and other local initiatives; and

WHEREAS, Bob Young was an actively involved member of the community at The Potomac School in McLean, which his children attended and where he served as chair of the board; and

WHEREAS, preceded in death by his wife, Nancy, Bob Young will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his children, Peter and Courtney, and their families; his brothers, Bill and Dennis; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Robert Arthur Young, Ph.D., a visionary developer whose generosity and hard work left a profound and lasting impact on the Falls Church community; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Robert Arthur Young, Ph.D., as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.