HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 96-4740, by Representatives Quall, Hatfield, Dickerson, Linville, Kessler, Patterson, Sheldon, Veloria, H. Sommers, Romero, Keiser, Wolfe, Appelwick, Rust, Dellwo, Ogden, Poulsen, Brown, Valle, R. Fisher, Cody, Murray, Jacobsen, Tokuda, Chopp, Mason, Cole, Scott, Conway, Scheuerman, Regala, Chappell and Costa

     WHEREAS, Washington State Representative Bob Basich is serving his sixth term of unselfish, distinguished service to the citizens of Grays Harbor, Cowlitz, Pacific, and Wahkiakum counties, and to all of the people of Washington; and

     WHEREAS, Affectionately and very appropriately known as "Coach," Representative Basich has announced that he will not seek reelection to the Washington State Legislature this year; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Basich and his supportive and delightful wife, Anita, live in Aberdeen, the city of his birth and a wonderful community that is all the better for his years of teaching, coaching, and mentoring; and

     WHEREAS, The students and staff in classrooms all across  Washington have always been uppermost in the mind of Representative Basich through his unwavering commitment to improve and strengthen our schools; and

     WHEREAS, During a legislative career that will forever be modeled by men and women in our own and other state governments, Coach Basich has also placed maximum importance on protecting and preserving the natural resources that help make our great land so very magnificent; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Basich, a United States Navy veteran of World War II, has been a veritable champion for the rights and recognition of servicemen and servicewomen who stood ready to make the ultimate sacrifice, as well as for those American heroes and heroines who did lose their lives in the service of their country; and

     WHEREAS, Our true friend, colleague, and touchstone, Coach Basich has once again shown the way in his tireless and conscientious work to highlight the importance of self-esteem, personal accountability, and a positive mental attitude on the part of our young people; and

     WHEREAS, The civic-mindedness of Representative Basich can be traced to his Associated Student Body presidencies at Aberdeen High School and Grays Harbor College, and later to his service on the Aberdeen City Council; and

     WHEREAS, Bob and Anita Basich have raised three exemplary children and this illustrious legislator and his wife are also the delighted grandparents of eight outstanding grandchildren; and

     WHEREAS, The halls and buildings of Aberdeen High School, Grays Harbor College, St. Martin's College, and the University of Oregon will echo evermore with the sound of the laughter and conversations of Bob Basich, a very celebrated alumnus, indeed, of each of these institutions; and

     WHEREAS, Coach Basich earned All-American honors as a football player at St. Martin's College and he is a member of this historic school's Sports Hall of Fame; and

     WHEREAS, In his years of teaching and coaching at the high school and college level, Representative Basich has been a source of inspiration and motivation for thousands of young men and women; and

     WHEREAS, The steadfast and constructive perspective of

Bob Basich has been a genuine paradigm for his peers and contemporaries in the classrooms of learning, as well as in the gymnasiums and on the fields of athletic endeavor; and

     WHEREAS, For more than four decades, Coach Basich has worked with the young athletes of the Grays Harbor communities as an umpire, and as a baseball coach at the Little League, Babe Ruth, American Legion, semi-professional, and minor league levels; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Bob Basich is one of the best darned ballroom dancers to ever pass this way, and he is as charming and captivating a host as you could ever meet; and

     WHEREAS, The Washington State Legislature will not be the same without him;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives celebrate and commemorate the grand and distinguished legislative, professional, athletic, and, most of all, the personal career of Washington State Representative Bob Basich; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to Washington State Representative Bob Basich and the members of his family.

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