SENATE RESOLUTION

                             2001-8604

By Senators West, Roach, Honeyford, Horn, Haugen, McAuliffe, Franklin, Benton, Snyder, Hale, Zarelli, Stevens, Parlette, Long, Winsley, Sheahan, Hewitt, Oke, Swecker, Hochstatter, Morton, Finkbeiner, Rossi, Carlson, Fraser, Brown, Constantine, Costa, Deccio, Eide, Fairley, Gardner, Hargrove, Jacobsen, Johnson, Kastama, Kline, Kohl-Welles, McCaslin, McDonald, Patterson, Prentice, Rasmussen, Regala, Sheldon, B., Sheldon, T., Shin, Spanel, and Thibaudeau

     WHEREAS,  Senator George L. Sellar served with distinction in the Washington State Senate, representing the people of the Twelfth Legislative District from 1972 through 2000, where he had a tremendous impact in shaping public policy and touching the lives of those with whom he came into contact; and

     WHEREAS, George L. Sellar was born in Chicago, Illinois, on January 23, 1929, growing up during the Great Depression and living through the Second World War for his formative years, developing a firm character and even-tempered personality which would serve him well in his life and political career; and

     WHEREAS, George L. Sellar settled in East Wenatchee and added to his considerable life experience by attending Wenatchee Valley College and later the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government; and

     WHEREAS, Senator George L. Sellar has served the Senate in a variety of capacities, including Majority and Minority Caucus Chair, Minority Leader, Chairman of the Ethics Committee, Chairman of the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee, and Ranking Member of the Local Government Committee; and

     WHEREAS, Senator George L. Sellar always considered education a top priority and was a persuasive advocate for expanding access to education through technology, helping to implement statewide telecommunications network links to the various state universities, colleges, and public schools; and

     WHEREAS, Senator George L. Sellar=s commitment to education earned him the AOutstanding Alumni Award@ from Wenatchee Valley College, as well as a scholarship in his name, the AGeorge Sellar Scholarship Endowment Fund,@ which pays the annual tuition for one student at Wenatchee Valley College each year; and

     WHEREAS, As a member of the Transportation Committee, Senator George L. Sellar fought hard to ensure fairness for eastern Washington families and businesses that rely on a solid transportation system to move them and freight around the state; and

     WHEREAS, George L. Sellar=s commitment to agriculture and transportation culminated in the creation of the AApples on Amtrak@ proposal, under which Amtrak added refrigerated rail cars to its cross-country passenger runs to transport apples from the Wenatchee area to the rest of the nation on freight cars known as the AGeorge Sellar Express@; and

     WHEREAS, For his years of service in transportation, the South Wenatchee Bridge on State Route 256 over the Columbia River was dedicated as the ASenator George Sellar Bridge@; and

     WHEREAS, Senator George L. Sellar was a strong supporter of free enterprise and trade, serving as the Marketing Director for the Port of Chelan County, as a member of the Washington Public Ports, as the President of the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association; and

     WHEREAS, In recognition of his support of trade and business, George L. Sellar received the AWashington Public Ports Association Lifetime Service Award@ in 1996, and was honored with the National Federation of Independent Business= AGuardian of Small Business Award@ and the Association of Washington Business with their ACornerstone Award@; and

     WHEREAS, In 1991, the Wenatchee Rotary Club named George L. Sellar a APaul Harris Fellow,@ an international honor that carried with it a $1,000 gift in his name to the Rotary International Foundation for use in worldwide charities; and

     WHEREAS, George L. Sellar consistently supported efforts to boost tourism in Washington, sponsoring legislation to create a tourism task force and establish a new process to allocate future funding to boost tourism on the basis of current successes, thereby rewarding those efforts which work the best to encourage tourism; and

     WHEREAS, As a champion of health, at a time when Washington=s health insurance appeared headed for crisis, Senator George L. Sellar had the courage to co-sponsor legislation creating Washington=s Basic Health Plan, a subsidized health insurance program for low-income families; and

     WHEREAS, Senator George L. Sellar=s tireless dedication to the Washington State Legislature and the people of Washington State has earned him the respect of legislators, state leaders, citizens, and staff, prompting one legislative leader to comment that he was Aone of the most honest and loyal people I=ve ever served with,@ and Aone of the most respected men in the Legislature@; and

     WHEREAS, Senator George L. Sellar=s ability to put aside partisan differences and work with legislators and officials from both parties, both houses of the Legislature, various agencies and the press, earned him a coveted reputation as a fair and conscientious lawmaker, prompting another state leader to observe that, ASenator Sellar may walk with kings, but he will never forget the needs of the common man@; and

     WHEREAS, After a distinguished career of public service and a full and rewarding personal life, George L. Sellar retired from the Senate after twenty-nine years, seeking rest and recuperation at his home in East Wenatchee with his wonderful wife, Alma; and

     WHEREAS, Following a protracted battle with cancer, George L. Sellar  quietly passed away in Wenatchee on December 29, 2000, leaving an empty seat on the Senate floor which the remaining and future members will be hard-pressed to fill; and

     WHEREAS, Senator George L. Sellar is survived by his wife, his daughter, his four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, to whom this body extends its most heartfelt condolences; and

     WHEREAS, While the loss of Senator George L. Sellar will always be felt, his example and character will continue to permeate the Senate, and his memory shall serve as an example to which all public servants must aspire;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate mourns the loss of this great man, but will cherish his memory and extends its thanks to him for his service to our state; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Alma Sellar in East Wenatchee.

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

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 2001-8604,

adopted by the Senate January 17, 2001.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate