SENATE RESOLUTION

                             1999-8601

By Senators Prentice, Wojahn, Fraser and Kohl-Welles

     WHEREAS, Mr. Ron Gray worked for the Department of Labor & Industries Workers= Compensation system for his entire thirty-eight and one-half year career in state service; and

     WHEREAS, During that time, he was a loyal member of the Washington Federation of State Employees Union Local 443, and a state executive board member; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Gray was among the union members who crafted the legislation creating the PERS I retirement system; and

     WHEREAS, He was a key manager responsible for streamlining the Workers= Compensation system from a paper to a computerized system in 1976; and

     WHEREAS, He instituted a formal training program for a new state fund claim management staff in 1979; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Gray was a charter member and continued to serve on the Policy and Litigation Control Committee working to resolve workers= compensation problems to reduce litigation; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Gray=s leadership in a 1989 agency initiative led to a state fund savings of more than $30 million for employers; and

     WHEREAS, Since the 1970s, as a member of the Insurance Services staff, he has provided timely and detailed bill analysis and fiscal impact statements for the Legislature; and

     WHEREAS, He has served our state and his agency under seven governors, beginning with the Rosellini administration, and twelve agency directors; and

     WHEREAS, He was presented in 1993 with the Governor=s Sustained Leadership Award for his distinguished service with the Workers= Compensation system; and   

     WHEREAS, He has dedicated his career to providing the highest quality service to both the workers and employers of Washington; and

     WHEREAS, His dedication to the citizens of Washington has extended to his service to the city of Tumwater as a member of the city=s library board for the past seven years; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Gray has been married to his wife, Sandi, for thirty-four years, and has three sons, Jeff, John, and Chris, and two grandsons, Colton and Tanner;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the members of the Washington State Senate shall hereby honor and offer our deepest gratitude and thanks to Mr. Ron Gray for his exemplary service to the state, and to the well-being of all the working people and employers of Washington, and that we urge all citizens of the state of Washington to join us in recognizing and honoring this man of uncommon dedication and service.

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1999-8601,

adopted by the Senate January 29, 1999.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate