SENATE RESOLUTION

                             8676

By Senators McCaslin, Snyder, Kohl-Welles, McAuliffe and Rasmussen

     WHEREAS, it is the tradition of the Washington State Senate to recognize individuals who make  extraordinary personal contributions for the benefit of the greater good in times of sudden adversity; and

     WHEREAS, on February 28, 2001, the 6.8 magnitude Nisqually Earthquake violently shook Western Washington and the Capital Campus, adversely affecting working conditions and threatening to significantly delay the legislative process; and

     WHEREAS, Legislators, staff and family members pulled together in the days immediately following the quake to clean up the damage and transition legislative operations into smaller, less conducive settings, so the Legislature could resume the people's work; and

     WHEREAS, the teamwork and commitment displayed by all those involved in getting the Legislature operational again was incredibly inspiring and truly indicative of the service oriented attitude so many in the Legislature hold dear; and

     WHEREAS, Doug Richards, an artist by hobby, a member of the Senate Security staff,  was awestruck by the highly motivated teamwork demonstrated by the Legislature in preparing to finish the public's business, despite significant interruptions caused by the earthquake; and

     WHEREAS, Doug Richards, inspired by the collective good done when individuals pulled together to solve shared problems, hand painted a charming mural on the walls of the west stairwell of the John. A. Cherberg Building depicting the efforts of many in cleaning up after the quake; and

     WHEREAS, Doug Richards provided a place in the mural for each who experienced the quake on campus to autograph the painting in memory of that experience; and

     WHEREAS, the signatures on the mural now number in the hundreds as many of us have visited the stairwell and signed the wall; and

     WHEREAS, Doug Richard's mural has become an integral part of the earthquake experience for many who lived it, and an attraction for curious visitors to the campus; and

     WHEREAS, the mural reminds each of us of the value of human life, the importance of pulling together in times of trouble and the joy that can come from working together to achieve common goals;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Washington State Senate hereby recognize Doug Richards for his artistic contribution to the Legislature in the aftermath of the Nisqually Earthquake; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Washington State Senate recommend that the mural be retained after repairs, if safe and feasible, to remind us all of the significance of the quake, the importance of friends and family, and the value of teamwork and cooperation; and

     BE IT STILL FURTHER RESOLVED, that immediately upon passage, copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Department of General Administration, Doug Richards, and the Senate Facilities and Operations Committee.

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

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8676,

adopted by the Senate April 20, 2001.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate