SENATE RESOLUTION
8619
By Senators Kastama, Rasmussen, Johnson, Snyder, Fairley, Spanel, Fraser, Kohl-Welles, Regala, Sheldon, B., and McAuliffe
WHEREAS, It is the policy of the Washington State Senate to recognize the outstanding contributions of our residents; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Frank B. Brouillet--affectionately known by colleagues, friends, and citizens of this state as "Buster"--was a lifelong public servant and The Voice of and for education in this state during the Sixties, Seventies, and Eighties who died January 20, 2001, after an eight-year battle with leukemia; and
WHEREAS, He devoted his political and professional life to upholding the paramount duty of the Washington State Constitution--i.e., to provide ample education for all children residing within its borders, without distinction or preference on account of race, color, caste, or sex; and
WHEREAS, As a lifelong resident of Puyallup, Buster graduated from Puyallup High School in 1946, and after college at the University of Puget Sound and military service to his country in Alaska, returned to Puyallup to teach at his alma mater high school in 1955 before he launched his political career in 1956; and
WHEREAS, During his sixteen-years as a member of the State House of Representatives, where he specialized in education legislation and appropriations, he became respected and known by his colleagues on both sides of the aisle as "Mr. Education" and is remembered best for his four terms (eight years) as Chair of the Joint Committee on Education, a very active House-Senate interim committee of the Sixties; and
WHEREAS, Upon announcing his intention to run for the non-partisan office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, a statewide position constitutionally charged with supervision over all matters pertaining to public schools, many of his legislative colleagues from both sides of the aisle, in respect for the bipartisan manner, enthusiastically endorsed and worked for his election; and
WHEREAS, Buster then served four terms as Superintendent of Public Instruction and is credited with providing leadership for altering our state's working definition of "equal education for all". This standardized curriculum for all students is now our state=s current educational policy of providing extra help for those students who otherwise would not obtain their educational goals and also provides an alternative curriculum for those students who would be a certain high risk for failure. Our current remediation, gifted, bilingual, vocational skills, and special education programs are prime examples of Buster's legacy in our state's education system; and
WHEREAS, Upon his departure from the office, this Chamber--in recognition of his distinguished years of advocacy for our children, for the educators who served our children, and for the Legislature's role in improving the quality of education in this state--bestowed upon him the lifelong title of Superintendent of Public Instruction Emeritus. While many assumed that Buster then would seek a less public, less stressful, and more senior citizen type lifestyle, he surprised all by accepting the Presidency of Pierce College and, to the delight of his constituency from the Twenty-fifth Legislative District that launched his political career, he led the way and presided over the establishment of Pierce College's Puyallup campus; and
WHEREAS, As Superintendent of Public Instruction, Buster played an integral role in opening China to the West during President Nixon's administration and continued, after leaving that office, as director of the Pacific Rim Center, initially at the University of Washington Seattle campus and later at the Tacoma campus, providing educational exchange opportunities for educators, students, and statesmen--American and Chinese; and
WHEREAS, Buster, when asked to return to serve the University of Washington, Tacoma campus as interim director of the education department and its professional preparation
program during an administrative difficulty, he not only unhesitatingly did so, but felt it was time to give back to the citizens of this state for the bestowed honor to serve his state in so many important positions and refused to accept more than a small amount of pay; and
WHEREAS, When called by our Governor to provide additional unpaid public service to the citizens of this state as a member of the Higher Education Coordinating Board, he again unhesitatingly did so and was well prepared for the assignment. He had written his University of Washington doctoral dissertation on the governance and coordination of higher education and was an active participant as a legislator in the many governance and articulation issues related to the separation of community colleges from the K-12 system;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the members of the Washington State Senate, on behalf of the people of our state, do hereby recognize the outstanding contribution and commitment of Dr. Frank "Buster" Brouillet to improving all levels of education in this state and do hereby acknowledge he did so unselfishly for the benefit of the people of Washington; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we gratefully acknowledge Buster=s assistance in, and appreciation for, the legislative process in the making of educational policy and for his kind behind the scene persuasion when he believed we were about to err on an education matter; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Frank "Buster" Brouillet's family members, including his wife, Marge'; his two sons, Marc and Blair; and his grandchildren; and to the following with a request that it be appropriately displayed for public viewing: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Puyallup High School, Pierce College, University of Puget Sound, University of Washington, Seattle and Tacoma, and Frank "Buster" Brouillet Elementary School.
I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate,
do hereby certify that this is a true and
and correct copy of Senate Resolution 8619,
adopted by the Senate February 21, 2001.
TONY M. COOK
Secretary of the Senate