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Thomas Warren "Tom" Moss Jr.

Member From: 1966 - January 1, 2002

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  • Birth Date: October 3, 1928 Birth Place:Norfolk, VA
  • Death Date: November 26, 2015
  • Gender: Male Race: Caucasian
  • Spouse: Norma Dietrich Moss
  • Children: Elizabeth Anne Moss Adamson, Susan Bruce Moss Bernhardt, and Thomas W., III
  • Religion: Lutheran
  • Education: Virginia Polytechnic Institute (B.S.) University of Richmond (LL.B.)
  • Military Service: 1st Lieutenant, Korean War
  • Occupation/Profession: Attorney
  • Memberships/Affiliations: Lutheran Church Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar Association Virginia Bar Association American Bar Association Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Scottish Rite, 32∞ Mason Shrine Young Democratic Club of Norfolk (former president) Virginia Tech Alumni Association, Tidewater Chapter (former president) Virginia Tech Alumni Association (board of directors) Sertoma Club of Norfolk DePaul Hospital (lay advisory board) Board of Tidewater Vocational Center (former member) American Cancer Society (former crusade chairman) Cystic Fibrosis Association, Virginia Chapter (board member)
  • Awards: Virginia Association of Optometrists, Distinguished Service to Humanity (1983) University of Richmond, Class of 1956, Distinguished Service Alumni (1984) Virginia Crime Prevention Association, leadership (1986) Virginia State Sheriffs' Association, outstanding legislative service (1987) Medical College of Hampton Roads, resolution for service (1988) Louise W. Eggleston Center, distinguished service (1988) Virginia Association of Locally Elected Constitutional Officers, Legislator of the Year (1989) Education Association of Norfolk, special legislative award (1989) National Conference of State Legislatures, leadership (1989) VEA Friend of Education (1999)
  • Bio: Born in Norfolk, Va., October 3, 1928, Thomas W. Moss, Jr. represented the City of Norfolk in the House of Delegates from 1966-2002. He is the son of the late Thomas Warren Moss and the late Laura (Burckard) Moss. A life-long resident of Norfolk, he was educated in its public schools and received a B.S. degree in Building Construction from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. During the Korean War, lie served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany. Upon completion of his military service, he attended the T. C. Williams School of Law of the University. of Richmond, receiving his LL.B. degree in 1956. An attorney-at-law in Norfolk, he was first elected to the House of Delegates on a ticket “to get Norfolk out of the Byrd Cage.” As a member he has served as chairman of the Militia and Police, General Laws, and Corporations, Insurance and Banking Committees, and as a member of the Appropriations, Courts of Justice, Nominations and Confirmations, and Rules Committees. He became the majority leader in 1980, and was elected Speaker in November 1991, filling the vacancy caused by the death of A. L. Philpott of Henry County. As the Speaker of the House, he chaired the Rules Committee. A gregarious, congenial man, Speaker Moss presided over the House with fairness and judiciously expedited the legislative process. He had a strong sense of history and a deep and abiding respect for Virginia and the Jeffersonian traditions. He was known for his sense of humor and the ability to get along with people. Speaker Moss received the Distinguished Service Alumni Award from the University of Richmond in 1984 and served in the leadership of the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Southern Legislative Conference of the Council of State Governments. He is the father of three children, Elizabeth Anne Moss Adamson, Susan Bruce Moss Bernhardt, and Thomas W Moss III.

    While he was Speaker of the House, the Clerk was BRUCE F. JAMERSON.
  • Other Notable Service and/or Elected Offices: Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates: November 1991- January 2000
    Norfolk City Treasurer; 2002-2014
Session District District Number Party Leadership Committees
1966 City of Norfolk 49 Democrat Federal Relations
Immigration
Militia and Police
Public Property
1968-1969 City of Norfolk 49 Democrat Federal Relations
General Laws
Immigration
Militia and Police
Public Property
1969 City of Norfolk 49 Democrat Federal Relations
General Laws
Immigration
Militia and Police
Public Property
1970-1971 City of Norfolk 49 Democrat Militia and Police (Chair)
Corporations Insurance and Banking
General Laws
1972-1973 Cities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach (part) 39 Democrat Militia and Police (Chair)
Corporations Insurance and Banking
Courts of Justice
General Laws
1974-1975 City of Norfolk 39 Democrat General Laws (Chair)
Corporations Insurance and Banking
Courts of Justice
Militia and Police
1976-1977 City of Norfolk 39 Democrat General Laws (Chair)
Corporations Insurance and Banking
Courts of Justice
Militia and Police
1978 City of Norfolk 39 Democrat General Laws (Chair)
Corporations Insurance and Banking
Courts of Justice
Militia and Police
1979 City of Norfolk 39 Democrat General Laws (Chair)
Corporations Insurance and Banking
Courts of Justice
Militia and Police
1980 City of Norfolk 39 Democrat Majority Floor Leader General Laws (Chair)
Corporations Insurance and Banking
Courts of Justice
Rules
1981 City of Norfolk 39 Democrat Majority Floor Leader General Laws (Chair)
Corporations Insurance and Banking
Courts of Justice
Rules
1982 City of Norfolk 37 Democrat Majority Floor Leader Corporations Insurance and Banking (Chair)
Courts of Justice
General Laws
Rules
1983 City of Norfolk (part) 88 Democrat Majority Floor Leader Corporations Insurance and Banking (Chair)
Courts of Justice
Nominations and Confirmations
Rules
1984 City of Norfolk (part) 88 Democrat Majority Floor Leader Corporations Insurance and Banking (Chair)
Courts of Justice
Nominations and Confirmations
Rules
1985 City of Norfolk (part) 88 Democrat Majority Floor Leader Corporations Insurance and Banking (Chair)
Courts of Justice
Nominations and Confirmations
Rules
1986 City of Norfolk (part) 88 Democrat Majority Floor Leader Corporations Insurance and Banking (Chair)
Courts of Justice
Nominations and Confirmations
Rules
1987 City of Norfolk (part) 88 Democrat Majority Floor Leader Corporations Insurance and Banking (Chair)
Appropriations
Nominations and Confirmations
Rules
1988 City of Norfolk (part) 88 Democrat Majority Floor Leader Corporations Insurance and Banking (Chair)
Appropriations
Nominations and Confirmations
Rules
1989 City of Norfolk (part) 88 Democrat Majority Floor Leader Corporations Insurance and Banking (Chair)
Appropriations
Nominations and Confirmations
Rules
1990 City of Norfolk (part) 88 Democrat Majority Floor Leader Corporations Insurance and Banking (Chair)
Appropriations
Nominations and Confirmations
Rules
1991 City of Norfolk (part) 88 Democrat Majority Floor Leader Corporations Insurance and Banking (Chair)
Appropriations
Nominations and Confirmations
Rules
1992 City of Norfolk (part) 88 Democrat Speaker of the House Rules (Chair)
1993 City of Norfolk (part) 88 Democrat Speaker of the House Rules (Chair)
1994 City of Norfolk (part) 88 Democrat Speaker of the House Rules (Chair)
1995 City of Norfolk (part) 88 Democrat Speaker of the House Rules (Chair)
1996 City of Norfolk (part) 88 Democrat Speaker of the House Rules (Chair)
1997 City of Norfolk (part) 88 Democrat Speaker of the House Rules (Chair)
1998 City of Norfolk (part) 88 Democrat Speaker of the House Rules (Chair)
1999 City of Norfolk (part) 88 Democrat Speaker of the House Rules (Chair)
2000 City of Norfolk (part) 88 Democrat Appropriations
Chesapeake and Its Tributaries
Claims
Rules
2001 City of Norfolk (part) 88 Democrat Appropriations
Chesapeake and Its Tributaries
Claims
Rules

*The information within this interactive and searchable application has been researched extensively by the House Clerk’s Office. As with any historical records of this age and breadth, there may be discrepancies and/or inconsistencies within records obtained from a variety of credible sources. Any feedback is encouraged at history@house.virginia.gov.

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