SENATE RESOLUTION

                         2000-8770

By Senators Sheldon, B., Hale, Spanel, and Rasmussen

     WHEREAS, Our culture proffers too little respect on its elders and pays too much tribute to the fleeting qualities of youth; and

     WHEREAS, The Washington State Senate is honored to have among its members eight septuagenarian Senators: Al Bauer, Alex Deccio, Rosa Franklin, Jeanine Long, Bob McCaslin, George Sellar, Sid Snyder and Lorraine Wojahn; and

     WHEREAS, It was Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. who said on the seventieth birthday of the American writer and activist Julia Ward Howe, "To be seventy years young is sometimes far more cheerful and hopeful than to be forty years old."; and

     WHEREAS, In the Legislature as in life, it is well established that a good measure of maturity and a modicum of treachery will always beat youth and skill; and

     WHEREAS, Fine wine can only come from ripe grapes; and

     WHEREAS, Despite their cumulative wisdom, maturity and depth of experience, former Governor Albert Rosellini still considers the above named Senators to be >just a bunch of kids=; and

     WHEREAS, The combined life experiences of these honored and honorable people have contributed greatly to the State Senate, the state of Washington and their local communities; and

     WHEREAS, The presence of these eight, >seventy-something= Senators contributes immeasurably to the esteem of this chamber and provides ballast to steady its passage through the sometimes stormy legislative days and nights; and

     WHEREAS, The above mentioned members not only lived through a significant portion of this state=s history, but through their commitment and service, helped shape it as well;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, that Senators Al Bauer, Alex Deccio, Rosa Franklin, Jeanine Long, Bob McCaslin, George Sellar, Sid Snyder and Lorraine Wojahn be honored for their great wisdom, surpassing patience, enduring good humor and longevity; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to all the Senate=s Septuagenarians.

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

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 2000-8770,

adopted by the Senate March 9, 2000.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate