SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1996-8697

By Senators Rasmussen, Goings, Franklin and Haugen

     WHEREAS, Oscar Berggren is affectionately known to friends, family, and neighbors as "Osky"; and

     WHEREAS, Osky Berggren has been of tremendous and outstanding service to his community of Roy for more than 40 years; and

     WHEREAS, His work on behalf of fire prevention has no doubt saved the lives of many people and millions of dollars worth of property over the years; and

     WHEREAS, Without his hard work and commitment to the public health and safety, many of his neighbors would have lost their lives, their homes, and other property to fire; and

     WHEREAS, His efforts to bring fire protection to his community began in 1951 with the loss of his own family's home to fire; and

     WHEREAS, That loss only steeled his commitment to bring his neighbors together in true community spirit to form the Roy Fire District; and

     WHEREAS, Osky Berggren served as Fire District Commissioner for more than 40 years, from the district's inception in 1953 to January, 1996; and

     WHEREAS, The Fire District today has four stations, and is in the process of building a new replacement station at Hart's Lake and enlarging the station at Lacamas; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Berggren's work on behalf of his community extends beyond fire protection to his service as a member of the Roy Grange #702; and

     WHEREAS, As an active Granger, he was instrumental in the introduction and passage of several bills in the Legislature affecting elections and taxation, including the 106% tax lid; and

     WHEREAS, His other community activity has included two terms of service on the HUD Citizens Advisory Board, petitioning the HUD Block Grant committee for a grant to build the McKenna Fire Station, helping to arrange the grant for the City of Roy water system, ten years service on the Pierce County Weed Board, and several years service to Drainage District #10; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to all his public service, Osky Berggren has  shown himself in private life to be a truly good friend and neighbor to the people of his community;

     WHEREAS, Through his service to his community at the Legislature over the years, Osky Berggren has become a friend to lawmakers from all corners of Washington;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the members of the Senate of the State of Washington do hereby recognize and honor Mr. Oscar Berggren for his innumerable contributions to his community and our state, and his outstanding example of citizenship and concern for the common good, and that we urge all citizens of Washington to join with us in so honoring and recognizing Mr. Berggren and his contributions to our great state; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution to be transmitted immediately by the Secretary of the Senate to Mr. Oscar Berggren and his family, and to the Roy Fire District.

I, Marty Brown, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1996-8697,

adopted by the Senate February 28, 1996.

MARTY BROWN

Secretary of the Senate