As the son of a small businessman, Edd Houck was raised to appreciate the values of hard work and diligence. Early in life, he worked as a bookkeeper, construction worker and truck driver. Edd began his teaching career in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, as a middle-school science teacher. He has also been a guidance counselor, assistant principal, and the Director of Student Services for Fredericksburg City Public Schools. In 2007, Edd announced his retirement from the school system after 34 years of service as a public school educator. He is currently the Director of Corporate and Community Programs for MediCorp in Fredericksburg.
Elected to the Virginia State Senate in 1983, Senator Houck currently serves on the Finance, Education and Health, Transportation, Rules, and the General Laws and Technology committees. Beginning in the 2008 General Assembly Session, he serves as Chairman of the Senate Education and Health Committee and the Senate Finance Committee's Health and Human Resources Subcommittee. He also is a past Chairman of the Joint Commission on Health Care. Additionally, he is a member of the Commission on Youth, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, Virginia's Freedom of Information Advisory Council, and the Rappahannock River Basin Commission.
Since 2005, Sen. Houck is one of five Senate representatives on the Budget Committee of Conference. This influential committee meets with its counterparts from the House of Delegates to reconcile differences between the House and Senate budgets and recommend a final budget bill to be sent to each House for approval.
His recent awards include the Medical Society of Virginia Legislator of the Year (2008), the Virginia Education Association Friend of Education Award (2007); Civil War Preservation Trust Legislative Hero (2007); State and National Friend of Cooperative Extension (2006); Virginia Treasurers' Association Legislator of the Year (2005), the Distinguished Friend of Agribusiness (2004); Legislative Hero for the Virginia League of Conservation Voters (2004); Psychiatric Society of Virginia Legislative Award (2003); Virginia Horse Council Legislator of the Year (2002); Virginia Academy of School Psychologists Legislator of the Year (2001); Virginia Coalition for Open Government Freedom of Information Award (2000); the Virginia Fraternal Order of Police Senator of the Year (2000); the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Distinguished Legislator Award (1999); and the Mental Health Association of Virginia Public Policy Award (1998).
Senator Houck and his wife, Dana, have two grown children and live in Spotsylvania, Virginia. Dana is a physical education teacher at Courtland Elementary School in Spotsylvania.
Education and Health (Chairman)
Finance (Health and Human Resources (Chairman), Education, Transportation Subcommittees)
General Laws (Chair- Subcommittee #1, Freedom of Information)
Transportation
Rules
Additional Senate Assignments
Budget Committee of Conference
Legislative Commissions and Subcommittees
Joint Commission on Health Care (Past Chairman)
Joint Commission on Transportation Accountability
Youth Commission (Past Chairman)
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission
Rappahannock River Basin Commission (Past Chairman)
Freedom of Information Advisory Council (Chairman)
Education Related Activies
Virginia State Board of Education Accountability Advisory Committee
Education Committee, Southern Legislative Conference
Education Commitee, National Conference of State Legislatures
Southern Regional Educational Board Legislative Committee
Phi Delta Kappa
Pi Kappa Alpha, Past President
Civic Involvement
Fredericksburg, Culpeper, Louisa, Madison, and Orange Chambers of Commerce
Chancellor Ruritan Club
Izaak Walton League, ex-officio
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Rappahannock Council for Child Abuse Prevention
Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault
Rappahannock Council on Domestic Violence
Recent Awards
2010 Distinguished Public Service Award: University of Virginia
2009 Legislator of the Year: Virginia School Board Association
2009 Child Advocate: Virginia PTA Association
2009 Alzheimer's Advocate: Virginia Alzheimer's Association Greater Richmond Chapter
2009: In Appreciation: Commonwealth Autism Service
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Past Awards
2008 Legislator of the Year: Medical Society of Virginia
2007 Friend of Education: Virginia Education Association
2006 National Friend of Extension
2006 State Friend of Extension
2006 In Appreciation: Virginians for the Repeal of the Death Tax
2005 Legislator of the Year- Virginia Treasurers Association
2004 Legislative Hero - Virginia League of Conservation Voters
2004 Distinguished Friend of Agribusiness - Virginia Agribusiness Council
2003 Legislative Award - Psychiatric Society of Virginia
2002 Legislator of the Year -Virginia Horse Council
2001 Legislator of the Year—Virginia Academy of School Psychologists
2001 Outstanding Service to Virginia – James Farmer Image Award
2001 Good Friend and Support – VA Fraternal Organization Elk Lodge #875 Fredericksburg, VA
2001 Recognition on Behalf of Consumers—The Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia
Education Awards
1998 Leadership Recognition—Virginia Consortium of Governor’s Schools
1997 “W. Kuhn Barnett Special Award” – Virginia Federation of the Council For Exceptional Children for Leadership in Serving Exceptional Children
1997 Legislator of the Year—Virginia Association of Curriculum & Development
1995 Golden Apple Award-Friend of Education—Virginia Education Association
1995 Legislator Leadership—Virginia School Boards Association
1990 Distinguished Service Award—Virginia Middle School Association
1987 Legislator of the Year—Virginia Vocational Education Association
Farming, Environmental & Conservation Awards
2000 Good Neighbor Award - Lake Anna Civic Association
1999 Distinguished Service to Agriculture—Virginia Farm Bureau
1999 Conservation Leadership Award—Friends of the Rappahannock
1997 Legislator of the Year – Virginia Recreation and Park Society
1996 Legislator of the Year—Virginia Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts
1996 Legislator of the Year—Virginia Recreation and Park Society
1992 Leadership & Service Recognition—Chesapeake Bay Foundation
1991 Outstanding Volunteer Service—Friends of the Rappahannock
Public Safety Awards
2000 Legislator of the Year—The Virginia Fraternal Order of Police
1999 Legislator Service Recognition—Thompson Hall Lodge #5, Fraternal Order of Police
1997 Outstanding Legislative Service – Virginia Sheriffs' Association
1997 Safety Leader Award — Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
1994 Warren G. Stambaugh Award—Virginia Network for Victims and Witnesses of Crime
1993 Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Victim Advocacy - Virginia Network for Victims and Witnesses of Crime
Public Health Awards
1999 Distinguished Legislator Award – National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
1998 Public Policy Award – Mental Health Association of Virginia
1998 Legislator of the Year Award – Virginia Alliance for the Mentally Ill
1998 Gratitude for Support—Virginia Occupational Therapy Association
1997 Child Advocate of the Year Award – Virginia Chapter, American Pediatric Society
1994 Legislator of the Year—Virginia Association of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Education
1994 Commendation of Appreciation—The Psychiatric Society of Virginia
Other Awards
2000 In Appreciation – PAM-AM Martial Arts Federation
1997 Legislator of the Year – Virginia Association of Locally Elected Constitutional Officers
1989 Community Service Award—The Central Virginia Housing Coalition
1989 Citation of Meritorious Service—National Association of Retired Federal Employees
1988 Public Service Award—Fredericksburg Area Builders Association
1987 Outstanding Involvement Award—Virginia Association of Community Action Agencies