DATE: Thursday, October 2, 1997             TAG: 9710020021

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B10  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Editorial 

                                            LENGTH:   48 lines

NORFOLK DEL. GEORGE H. HEILIG JR. QUIETLY EFFECTIVE HE WAS MORE DOER THAN TALKER AND SHUNNED THE SPOTLIGHT

Norfolk Del. George H. Heilig Jr., age 54 at his death this week, brought a conciliatory touch, intelligence and studiousness to his nearly 26 years of effective public service in the Virginia General Assembly.

Quiet-spoken, personable, he was well respected for his legislative skills and invariable willingness to listen thoughtfully to constituents, colleagues and lobbyists. He was more doer than talker and shunned the spotlight. Despite the substantial power he wielded in the legislature, he inspired confidence, not fear.

Deteriorating vision - he had become legally blind - dictated his surprise announcement a few months ago that he would not seek a 14th two-year term even though he was again the Democratic Party's choice for the 86th District seat. He could no longer see to read or to drive. He could not recognize others, even longtime friends, by sight.

An enthusiastic athlete, Heilig lettered in four sports at Norfolk Academy and was a star football player at Hampden-Sydney. He was an outstanding tennis player. He golfed. He worked out. He was boating with friends when he was struck down by a fatal heart attack.

As chairman of the House Corporations, Insurance and Banking Committee and as a veteran member of the House Appropriations Committee and other committees, Heilig could and did deliver for his district, Norfolk, Hampton Roads and Virginia. His colleagues welcomed his mastery of complicated issues no less than his courteous approach to everyone. Bills he backed usually became law. Among his leading legislative concerns were education, health care, the arts and economic development.

His grandfather and father also succumbed at comparatively young ages to heart disease. In recent years, physical ills and inner turmoil had taken their toll on him. Uncharacteristically, he abruptly quit his law practice and absented himself from Virginia for an extended period, raising doubts that he could or would discharge his public duties. But he got back on track. Then came the unexpected decision to withdraw his candidacy.

Heilig did not thereafter behave like a short-timer in office. He had the winning athlete's will to play out the game as best he could. He continued to perform his legislative duties, traveling regularly to Richmond for committee meetings, and responding to his constituents, who had repeatedly registered satisfaction with his performance. But for fate, he would have gone the distance.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu