Commending Colonel Donald Caldwell, USAR.

Commending Colonel Donald Caldwell, USAR.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 2, 2026
Agreed to by the Senate, February 19, 2026
WHEREAS, Colonel Donald Caldwell, USAR, a distinguished prosecutor who served as the Commonwealth's attorney of the City of Roanoke for 46 years, retired on December 31, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Donald Caldwell earned a bachelor's degree from the Virginia Military Institute and served his country honorably for 21 years, achieving the rank of colonel in the United States Army Reserve; and
WHEREAS, after obtaining a law degree at the University of Richmond, Donald Caldwell briefly served as an assistant public defender in Roanoke beginning in 1976 before becoming an assistant Commonwealth's attorney on January 1, 1978; and
WHEREAS, Donald Caldwell was initially appointed to complete the unexpired term of his predecessor starting on October 1, 1979, then was elected 11 consecutive times to serve as the Commonwealth's attorney of the City of Roanoke; and
WHEREAS, at the time of his retirement, Donald Caldwell was the longest-serving active Commonwealth's attorney and the second longest-serving chief prosecutor in the history of the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, over the past half-century, Donald Caldwell guided the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office through various advancements in technology that profoundly impacted methods of evidence gathering and prosecution; and
WHEREAS, Donald Caldwell was a generous and devoted mentor who held his attorneys to a high standard while working tirelessly to encourage their growth and success; and
WHEREAS, Donald Caldwell supported prosecutors across the Commonwealth by serving as president of the Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys in the late 1990s and by spearheading the creation of the Commonwealth's Attorneys Training Fund; and
WHEREAS, in retirement, Donald Caldwell will continue to assist the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office of the City of Roanoke on a part-time basis, while finding more time for his passions, which include hunting and competing in cowboy shooting competitions; and
WHEREAS, with compassion and an unwavering commitment to justice, Donald Caldwell has admirably led the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office of the City of Roanoke, leaving a legacy that will inspire others for years to come; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Colonel Donald Caldwell, USAR, longtime Commonwealth's attorney of the City of Roanoke, for his service on the occasion of his retirement; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Colonel Donald Caldwell, USAR, as an expression of the General Assembly's high regard for his contributions to the City of Roanoke and the Commonwealth and best wishes for a joyful and fulfilling retirement.