[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 185 (Wednesday, December 10, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING ALVIN ANDERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT J. WITTMAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 10, 2008

  Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today with the sad 
news that Mr. Alvin Anderson, a longtime resident of Williamsburg, 
Virginia passed away on November 29th. He was a strong influence in 
land use issues throughout the Williamsburg area, and a man who was 
deeply dedicated to his family. Mr. Anderson graduated from the College 
of William & Mary in 1970 and served as a second lieutenant in the Army 
for several years. He returned to William & Mary, earning his law 
degree at the Marshall-Wythe School of Law in 1972.
  Mr. Andersen would go on to serve as president of the W&M Society of 
the Alumni, was a member of the Marshall-Wythe Law School Foundation 
Board, and until last year served on the Board of Visitors. In 1998 he 
received the Alumni Medallion, the highest honor bestowed by the W&M 
Alumni Association.
  After graduation Mr. Anderson practiced law with his uncle, Harper 
Anderson, in Williamsburg which would later become Anderson, Franck and 
Davis, P.C. His firm would merge with Kaufman & Canoles in 1999, where 
Mr. Anderson was integral in establishing their Williamsburg office. 
Over the course of his 36 year legal career, Mr. Anderson specialized 
in estate matters and land use, and was fundamental in the development 
of Williamsburg Landing and Quarterpath at Williamsburg.
  He distinguished himself as the Commissioner in Chancery for the 
Circuit Courts of the City of Williamsburg and County of James City, 
Counties of New Kent, Charles City, King William, and King and Queen, 
and Special Master in York County since 1975. Also, he served as 
Commissioner of Accounts for the Circuit Court of the City of 
Williamsburg and County of James City since 1988. Despite his 
professional accomplishments, he would frequently remark, ``I'm just a 
country lawyer''.
  Mr. Anderson was a member of the Virginia Bar Association, the 
Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, the Local Government Attorneys of 
Virginia, and the Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference. He chaired the 
Judicial Nominations Committee of the Virginia State Bar and the 
District Ethics Committee of the Virginia State Bar. Among other 
honors, he had been recognized as a Fellow of the Virginia Law 
Foundation, a distinction bestowed on less than 1% of the lawyers in 
the Commonwealth.
  He is survived by his wife of nearly 40 years, Betsy Calvo Anderson; 
two daughters, Mary Beth Sherwin and Sara Paris Huddleston; his father, 
Dr. William Morris Anderson; a brother, William Morris Anderson Jr.; a 
sister, Anna Katharine Anderson; mother and father-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. 
Philip S. Calvo Jr.; brother-in-law, Philip S. Calvo III; sons-in-law, 
Tyler Sherwin and Byrne Huddleston; and other family and friends. Alvin 
once said, ``I'm proud of two things in my life, one is my family and 
the other is my college. I told someone the other day; this makes me 
feel like the person my dog thinks I am.''
  Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me and countless others as we 
recognize the many contributions of Alvin Anderson.

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