Evening star., 1952-07-18
Star Trophy Awarded
David Lawrence BY
Fairfax Federation

David Lawrence, Washington
editor and columnist who was a
leader in the reform of Fairfax
County's government. last night
received The Evening Star Trophy
for outstanding civic service to-
that county during 1851.
The award was made by the
Fairfax County Federation of
Citizens Associations. It was the
second annual presentation of the
trophy in Fairfax County. and it
was an unusual occasion for sew
eral reasons.
First, Mr.. Lawrence never has
been a member of the federation.
Second, the federation held op-
posing views about what form of
government Fairfax should have.
The county executive form ia
Vored by Mr.. Lawrence was
adopted in a 1850 referendum,
and became effective last Janu-
ary. He was vice chairman of a
County Government Study Com
mission which recommended the
county executive form. The Citi-
zens' Federation favored a county
manager system, which was de-
teated in the same referendum.
Contribution Recognized.
Regardless of past differences,
the federation said it felt Mr..
Lawrence made a greater contri-
button to the welfare Of the county
than any other citizen during
1851.
Harold Ward, past federation
president and recipient of The
Star Trophy in 1850, said the fed
Grafton still felt the best form Of |
government was not adopted. He
was chairman of the federation
committee that selected Mr.. Law
renee for the 1851 award.
I'VE want it clearly understood
this award is being made to Mr..
Lawrence for one particular serv-
ice," said Mr.. Ward. THAT is the
work he did bringing about the
transition from the old form to
the new county executive FORM"
He recalled that. after the
county executive system was
adopted, Mr.. Lawrence went be-
fore the supervisors and interested
them in getting prepared for the
shift. The supervisors set up a
research project under Mr.. Law
renee. Through his efforts the |
University of Virginia Bureau of
Public Administration was called
in to study details of the change
over.
c. C. Massey. former county
manager of Henrico County. was
appointed to the Fairfax County
executive position and took Office
last April l.
Mr.. Lawrence accepted the
trophy with a word of praise for
the federationS part in reforming
Fairfax'S government:
The movement that resulted in
q change in government couldn't
have been accomplished without
the trail-blazing you people did,"
he said. Il came on the scene
somewhat later" i
Mr.. Lawrence said it might be a
year or two before Fairfax County
would enjoy all the benefits of the
new government. He urged pa
tience, but he cautioned that some
problems need attention right ,
away.
Wants Balance.
Foremost among these problems
is the need to balance representa-
tion on the Board of Supervisors,
said Mr.. Lawrence. The three Su-
pervisors from urban districts rep
resent a great many more people |,
than the three supervisors from
rural districts.
Mr.. Lawrence recalled that he
consistently advocated rediStrict-
ing as solution to the representa-
ton problem. He was among petit
TONERS who asked the court for
rediStricting soon after the county
executive referendum was over. A
redistricting commission was ap-
pointed. held several hearings, but
has not yet reported.
The trophy was presented to I
Mr.. Lawrence by Howard p.
Bailey, assistant to the managing
editor of The Star.
The Federation meeting was