SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1992-8731

By Senators Erwin, Owen, Gaspard, Madsen, W. Hansen, von Reichbauer, Sumner, Barr, Vognild, Oke, Metcalf, Sellar and Rasmussen

     WHEREAS, Mr. Edward J. McLeary of Tacoma, Washington, has contributed to this state as a private pilot and as a successful businessman; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. McLeary has held a private pilot's license for more than fifty years and has been flying since the days when his plane had so few instruments that Mr. McLeary needed to use the sound of the wing wires to determine air speed; and

     WHEREAS, During World War II, Mr. McLeary served as a pilot instructor at Gonzaga University and taught many other Washingtonians the art of flying; and

     WHEREAS, As a businessman, Mr. McLeary has exemplified the true entrepreneurial spirit of Washingtonians by creating on the headwaters of Rocky Ford Creek near Soap Lake, Washington, what has become the largest fish breeding and hatchery business in the world, producing over 250 million live trout and salmon eggs per year; and

     WHEREAS, During the nearly fifty years since his business's maiden flight, Mr. McLeary has piloted the business through thirty states and twenty-five countries - landing along the way on the Small Business Administration's state Small Businessman of the Year Award in 1969 and on the Governor's Export Award in 1987; and

     WHEREAS, The success of Mr. McLeary's missions has depended in great part upon the exceptional support of Mrs. Lois McLeary, the McLeary children and grandchildren, and the personnel at the six Washington facilities and one Oregon facility; and

     WHEREAS, Senator Wanda Hansen and her husband, the late-Senator Frank "Tub" Hansen, were influential in helping the McLeary business secure a lease agreement with the Washington State Wildlife Department that resulted in significant numbers of rainbow trout being publicly stocked into Columbia Basin lakes at no cost to state taxpayers;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate hereby recognize the aerial achievements and business contributions of Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. and Lois McLeary and their family and personnel and pay tribute to them as people of whom Washingtonians young and old can be proud; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate immediately transmit copies of this resolution to Mr. and Mrs. McLeary and family, to the personnel at the business headquarters at McMillin, Washington, and to Senator Wanda Hansen.

 I, Gordon A. Golob, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1992-9831,

adopted by the Senate March 11, 1992.

GORDON A. GOLOB

Secretary of the Senate