2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26105519D

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 165

Offered February 23, 2026

Celebrating the life of Lieutenant Colonel Richard Thomas Bulova, USAR.

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Patrons—Singh, Bulova, Laufer, Anderson, Anthony, Askew, Austin, Ballard, Bloxom, Callsen, Carnegie, Carr, Carroll, Cherry, Clark, Cohen, Cole, J.G., Cole, N.T., Convirs-Fowler, Cornett, Cousins, Davis, Delaney, Dougherty, Downey, Feggans, Fowler, Franklin, L.V., Franklin, M.A., Gardner, Garrett, Glass, Griffin, Guzman, Hamilton, Hayes, Helmer, Henson, Hernandez, Herring, Hodges, Hope, Kent, Keys-Gamarra, Kilgore, Krizek, Leftwich, LeVere Bolling, Lopez, Maldonado, Martinez, McAuliff, McClure, McGuire, McLaughlin, McNamara, McPike, McQuinn, Mehta, Morefield, Nivar, Oates, O'Quinn, Pence, Phillips, Pope Adams, Price, Rasoul, Reaser, Reid, Runion, Schmidt, Scott, D., Scott, P.A., Seibold, Sewell, Shin, Simon, Simonds, Sullivan, Tata, Thomas, Thornton, Torian, Tran, Wachsmann, Walker, Ward, Ware, Watts, Webert, Whittle, Wiley, Willett, Williams, Wilt, Wright, Wyatt and Zehr; Senators: Aird, Bagby, Bennett-Parker, Boysko, Carroll Foy, Cifers, Craig, Deeds, Diggs, Durant, Favola, French, Hackworth, Head, Jones, Jordan, Locke, Lucas, Marsden, McDougle, McPike, Mulchi, Obenshain, Peake, Pekarsky, Perry, Pillion, Reeves, Roem, Rouse, Salim, Srinivasan, Stanley, Stuart, Sturtevant, Suetterlein, Surovell, VanValkenburg and Williams Graves

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WHEREAS, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Thomas Bulova, USAR, an honorable veteran and an active and beloved member of the Fairfax County community, died on December 29, 2025; and

WHEREAS, a native of Syracuse, New York, Richard “Dick” Thomas Bulova enlisted in the United States Army before graduating with a bachelor's degree in physics from Syracuse University in 1962 and receiving a Reserve Officers' Training Corps commission in the infantry; and

WHEREAS, following his second tour of active duty, Dick Bulova relocated to Washington, D.C., to serve the United States Department of the Army as a project engineer developing night vision and countersurveillance technology; and

WHEREAS, Dick Bulova served his country with honor and distinction during the Vietnam War, remained active with the United States Army Reserves, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel, and was later appointed to the United States Army Acquisition Corps, retiring as a GS-14 in 1994; and

WHEREAS, Dick Bulova gave generously of his time and expertise for the benefit of others in various capacities, including as a teacher's aide, guest lecturer, and science fair judge at local schools, as a youth catechist at his church, as an ombudsman at an assisted living home, as an officer of election, and as a marriage celebrant, a role in which he performed hundreds of weddings for couples throughout Northern Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Dick Bulova's interests included bowling, sailing, hiking, photography, winemaking, and marksmanship, and he was happiest of all when traveling and spending quality time with family and friends; and

WHEREAS, Dick Bulova fostered and supported his community as a proud and active member of local chapters of the Knights of Columbus, the Elks Lodge, the Izaak Walton League of America, and the American Legion; and

WHEREAS, Dick Bulova was married for 31 years to Sharon Bulova, longtime member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and was the father of the Honorable David L. Bulova, Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources and former delegate, and father-in-law of the Honorable Gretchen Bulova, delegate of the 11th District; and

WHEREAS, Dick Bulova will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his loving wife, Ann-Lis; his children, David and Karin; his five grandchildren; 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 Lieutenant Colonel Richard Thomas Bulova, USAR, a revered member of the Fairfax County community whose legacy of service is an inspiration to all who knew him; 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 Lieutenant Colonel Richard Thomas Bulova, USAR, as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.