SENATE RESOLUTION

                                                                  1993-8646

 

By Senators Fraser, Prentice, Prince, Williams, Amondson, Gaspard, Snyder, Sutherland and Owen

 

         WHEREAS, Richard J. "Dick" Clifton devoted his life to preserving and interpreting the rich heritage of the State of Washington, including a human history stretching back over ten thousand years, and a wealth of natural wonders and beauty; and

         WHEREAS, He was born in Shelton, Washington in 1935, and was a lifelong resident of the Evergreen State, graduating with a B.A. in art from Pacific Lutheran University in 1959; and

         WHEREAS, Dick Clifton was an exhibit designer and then Chief of Interpretive Services for the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission for thirty-one years; and

         WHEREAS, His intense love of history and artistic ability enabled him to design and develop some of Washington's best interpretive centers, among them the Lewis and Clark Center at Cape Disappointment, Fort Columbia near Chinook, and many other centers from one end of the state to the other; and

         WHEREAS, The forty heritage sites developed under Dick's guidance provide a wide range of enriching educational experiences for Washington families including tours of historic homes, a trip into one of our state's largest limestone caves, and fourteen interpretive centers offering guided walks, campfire talks, and audio-visual programs describing the fascinating history of our state; and

         WHEREAS, Dick Clifton actively contributed to his community by serving on the Department of Transportation's Scenic Highways Task Force, the Washington Heritage Caucus, the Northwest Visual Art Center at Freighthouse Square in Tacoma, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Capital City Marathon; and

         WHEREAS, He served twenty-two years in the National Guard and Army Reserve and was transferred as a major to the retired Reserve in 1984; and

         WHEREAS, Dick retired from the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission in 1991 to pursue his art work which included hand-cut serigraphs and silk-screen prints; and

         WHEREAS, On March 24, 1993, Richard J. "Dick" Clifton died at the age of fifty-seven; and

         WHEREAS, His enthusiasm, laughter, easy-going nature, and infectious personality will be sorely missed by his family, friends, coworkers, and anyone who ever met Dick Clifton; and

         WHEREAS, It now falls upon all of us to continue his mission of protecting and preserving unique and special sites of human and natural history in our state;

         NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the members of the Washington State Senate, along with the people of our state, pay tribute to the life and memory of Richard J. "Dick" Clifton.

 

I, Marty Brown, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1993-8646,

adopted by the Senate April 27, 1993.

 

 

MARTY BROWN

Secretary of the Senate