HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 99-4610, by Representatives Quall, Talcott, Conway, Scott, Keiser, O'Brien, Tokuda, Anderson, Poulsen, Murray, Alexander, Ballard, Ballasiotes, Barlean, Benson, Boldt, Buck, Bush, Cairnes, Campbell, Carlson, Carrell, B. Chandler, G. Chandler, Chopp, Clements, Cody, Constantine, Cooper, Cox, Crouse, DeBolt, Delvin, Dickerson, Doumit, Dunn, Dunshee, Edmonds, Edwards, Eickmeyer, Ericksen, Esser, Fisher, Fortunato, Gombosky, Grant, Haigh, Hankins, Hatfield, Huff, Hurst, Kagi, Kastama, Kenney, Kessler, Koster, Lambert, Lantz, Linville, Lisk, Lovick, Mastin, McDonald, McIntire, McMorris, Mielke, Miloscia, Mitchell, Morris, Mulliken, Ogden, Parlette, Pennington, Pflug, Radcliff, Reardon, Regala, Rockefeller, Romero, Ruderman, Santos, Schindler, D. Schmidt, K. Schmidt, Schoesler, Schual‑Berke, Skinner, D. Sommers, H. Sommers, Stensen, Sullivan, Sump, Thomas, Van Luven, Veloria, Wensman, Wolfe and Wood

        WHEREAS, It is the policy of the Washington State Legislature to recognize and honor the contributions of individuals who reflect standards of excellence that enhance the well-being and quality of life of all the citizens of the state of Washington; and

        WHEREAS, John Henry Stanford, a native of Yeadon, Pennsylvania (his "Camelot"), had a long and distinguished career of not only being the best he could be but motivating others to be the best they could be; and

        WHEREAS, John Stanford graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1961 with a bachelor's degree in political science and earned a master's degree in personnel management and administration from Central Michigan University; and

        WHEREAS, John Stanford, a thirty-year career officer in the United States Army, also received military education at the Infantry School, the Army Aviation School, the Transportation School, the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces; and

        WHEREAS, John Stanford served in the Pentagon as military assistant to the Under Secretary of the Army during the Carter Administration, 1977-1979; executive assistant to the Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, 1981; special assistant and executive secretary during the Reagan Administration to Secretary of Defense, Caspar Weinberger, 1981-1984; and in a number of chief executive officer positions of billion-dollar logistics operations during his seven years as a general officer; and

        WHEREAS, John Stanford received many honors during his military career, including the Army Commendation Medal, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Legion of Merit; and

        WHEREAS, John Stanford served as County Manager for Fulton County, Georgia (encompassing Atlanta), the largest, wealthiest county in the Southeast, where he managed the day-to-day operations and long-range administrative direction of more than five thousand employees and nearly one million residents, and oversaw a budget of approximately one-half billion dollars; and

        WHEREAS, John Stanford spoke extensively to industry groups, private corporations, universities, and defense organizations on topics such as leadership, values, communication, and effective motivational techniques; and

        WHEREAS, John Stanford became Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools on September 1, 1995, where he proceeded to win the hearts and minds of the people with his mission to make the district's schools, and school kids, the best they could be; and

        WHEREAS, John Stanford worked hard to successfully accomplish his vision by implementing innovative and ground-breaking measures to refocus the district's mission on academic achievement, breaking the link between poverty and low achievement, raising standards for students and teachers, negotiating a trust agreement with the teacher's union, developing a training program for teachers and principals, allocating equal resources to schools, improving school safety, increasing state, local, and federal funding, and implementing a city-wide reading campaign; and

        WHEREAS, John Stanford as Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools considered himself as the Chief Executive Officer of Destiny, Inc., building destinies for children and creating a world-class educational system to promote excellence in all their endeavors; and

        WHEREAS, John Stanford had the courage, character, will, and dedication to try the impossible in order to achieve great things for the benefit of thousands of Seattle school children who knew him, questioned him, respected him, thanked him, loved him, and hugged him in response to his leadership philosophy of "Love `em and lead `em"; and

        WHEREAS, John Stanford left a wonderful heritage for his family, his wife, Patricia Corley, and his two sons, Steven and Scott, and for all the children, families, and people of Seattle and Washington state by his shining example of commitment to compassionate service, principled leadership, individual integrity, and common-sense intelligence;

        NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the memory of John Henry Stanford for his outstanding contributions he gave to the people of this state; and

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Co-Chief Clerks of the House of Representatives to Patricia Stanford, Steven Stanford, Scott Stanford, and the Seattle Public School District.

                    I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

                      Resolution adopted by the House of Representatives

                                       February 3, 1999.

                               ________________________________

                               Timothy A. Martin, Co-Chief Clerk

                               ________________________________

                                Dean R. Foster, Co-Chief Clerk