SENATE RESOLUTION

8611

BySenators Liias, Billig, Braun, Brown, Carlyle, Cleveland, Conway, Darneille, Das, Dhingra, Dozier, Ericksen, Fortunato, Frockt, Gildon, Hasegawa, Hawkins, Hobbs, Holy, Honeyford, Hunt, Keiser, King, Kuderer, Lovelett, McCune, Mullet, Muzzall, Nguyen, Nobles, Padden, Pedersen, Randall, Rivers, Robinson, Rolfes, Saldaña, Salomon, Schoesler, Sheldon, Short, Stanford, Van De Wege, Wagoner, Warnick, Wellman, Wilson, C., Wilson, J., and Wilson, L.

WHEREAS, Steve K. Houle faithfully served as a Washington State Trooper for 28 years; and

WHEREAS, Steve was a devoted son to Howard and Terri, husband to Laurie, stepfather to Rachel, and father to Hayden and Connor, living and serving the State of Washington in his home region of Kittitas County; and

WHEREAS, In a tragic accident, Steve's life was cut short by an avalanche in the mountains near Cle Elum on February 8th, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Steve's supervisor, Sergeant Barry Pilkinton wrote "I will remember Steve not only as a co-worker but as my friend. A man that loved his wife, family and friends. He was passionate about the outdoors and we talked about hunting and fishing for hours. You didn't catch a bigger fish or win any sort of bet with Steve around. I will miss our adventures and his sense of humor. I will miss my friend."; and

WHEREAS, Steve was loved and respected by his friends and colleagues in the Washington State Patrol where he served more than seven years as a Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer, and then in the Commercial Vehicle Division (CVD) in Wenatchee for the rest of his exemplary career; and

WHEREAS, Steve's work in the CVD earned him the Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks Trooper of the Year Award, one of the agency's highest honors and an accolade bestowed for a commitment to keeping Washington State's highways and roadways safe for all; and

WHEREAS, The State of Washington has lost a committed Trooper who exemplified professionalism and commitment to public service and his fellow Washingtonians;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate recognize Washington State Trooper Steve K. Houle as a father, husband, friend, and devoted servant to the people of Washington State and extends its deepest condolences to his family and community.

I, Brad Hendrickson, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8611,

adopted by the Senate

February 26, 2021

BRAD HENDRICKSON

Secretary of the Senate