HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 94-4690, by Representatives Stevens, Brough, Campbell, Heavey, Backlund, Dyer and McMorris

     WHEREAS, It is the policy of the Washington State Legislature to recognize excellence in all fields of endeavor; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray exhibited the highest level of excellence in her absolute commitment to empirical evidence, the facts, and the truth throughout her entire life; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray had a long and successful career in education and administration, which earned her distinction and stature as a national leader in science with a thorough grasp of complex and highly controversial issues; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray was a notable marine biologist and public servant who received international recognition for her research in marine biology and her work in developing a national science policy for the United States; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray spent her life fighting the battle against the dilution of science in public life, the withering of science education in schools, and the politicization of science in the public policy arena; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray lived by the rule that the way to achieve truth is through objective, rigorous experiments and if you can't prove something, don't state it as fact; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray exposed the myths of doom and gloom propelled by the distortions and exaggerations of environmental alarmism, such as global cooling, global warming, the disappearing ozone layer, the number of disappearing animal species, the vanishing rain forests, the energy shortages of natural gas or oil, and the absolutism against the use of nuclear power; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray was born in Tacoma, Washington on September 3, 1914, where she was raised learning the traditions and values that made America great; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray attended local public schools in Tacoma, Washington, and graduated from Stadium High School in Tacoma in 1933; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Mills College in Oakland, California, in 1937; a Master of Arts Degree from Mills College in Oakland, California, in 1938; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences, from Stanford University in Stanford, California, in 1945; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray served as a teacher in the Oakland Public Schools and the Pacific Grove Public Schools in California from 1939 to 1942; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray served as Associate Professor of Zoology on the faculty of the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, from 1945 to 1976; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray served as a member of the National Academy of Science Committee on Oceanography from 1957 to 1963; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray served as Special Consultant in Biological Oceanography with the United States National Science Foundation from 1960 to 1963; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray served as United States Representative for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development for Science from 1960 to 1965; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray served as Director of the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, Washington, from 1963 to 1972; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray served as Visiting Professor at Stanford University in Stanford, California, and as Chief Scientist for the TE VEGA Expedition of the International Indian Ocean Expedition in 1964; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray served as Chairman of the United States Atomic Energy Commission from 1972 to 1975; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray served as Assistant Secretary of State with the United States Department of State, Bureau of Oceans, International and Environmental and Scientific Affairs in 1975; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray served as Governor of the state of Washington from 1977 to 1981; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray served as Senior Scholar, Environmental Health and Safety, at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray served as a consultant for the Argonne National Laboratory in Argone, Illinois; the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California; the Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico; and the United States Department of Energy in Washington, D.C.; and as a member of the Investment Policy Advisory Committee, United States Trade Representative Office; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray served as a founding member of the Board of Trustees and Adjunct Scholar for the Washington Institute for Policy Studies in Seattle, Washington; as a member of the Board of Trustees for St. Martin's College in Lacey, Washington; and as a member of the Board of Trustees and treasurer for the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation in Tacoma, Washington; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray has been the deserving recipient of numerous prestigious honors and awards including, United Nations Peace Medal, Guggenheim Fellowship, American Agriwomen Veritas Award, Woman of Achievements in Energy Award, Woman Judges of Washington Honoree, Washington State Legislature Susan B. Anthony Award, United States Reserve Officer's Association Nathan Hale Award, Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge American Exemplar Medal, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority First Annual Humanitarian Award, Western Society of Engineers Washington Award, Disabled American Veterans National Commanders Award, Harper's Bazaar Top Ten Most Influential Women in the United States, State of Israel Bond Organization Man of the Year, Independent Order of Odd Fellows Thomas Wildey Award, Francis K. Hutchison Medal for Service in Conservations, Francis Boyer Science Award, and Outstanding Women of Science Award; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray authored the bestseller Trashing The Planet, published by Regnery Gateway, Inc. in 1990, and Environmental Overkill:  Whatever Happened to Common Sense, published by Regnery Gateway, Inc. in 1993; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray enjoyed speaking, writing, Native American wood carving, and running her small family farm and orchard raising fruits, vegetables, and poultry; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray served the people of Washington and the United States well throughout her years of tireless vocations in both the public and private sectors by providing balanced, honest, and understandable information on the critical issues of energy, environment, and science; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray firmly established herself as an intelligent, knowledgeable, articulate, fair-minded, credible, competent, and distinguished professional; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray was known as an entertaining, provocative, persuasive, no-holds-barred personality who combined a unique blend of conservatism, enthusiasm, panache, and common sense; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray paved the way for other scientists and academics to hold those in power and their special interest groups accountable through her example of personal integrity, discipline, brilliance, and courage; and

     WHEREAS, Dixy Lee Ray is a source of great pride to the citizens of the state of Washington;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the state of Washington honor Dixy Lee Ray for the dedicated service that characterized her life's work, for the outstanding example of diligence and excellence she set for others, and for the hope that her struggles gave future generations for a satisfying and successful life as responsible stewards of planet earth.