WHEREAS, The Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce has served the Yakima community since the 1890s and has a long history of building for the future, including initiating such important programs for the Yakima Valley as the Roza and Rimrock Reclamation Project, Mt. Rainier National Park, funding for I-82, and the Yakima Airport; and
     WHEREAS, Gary Webster was born and raised in Yakima, attended Yakima Public Schools, attended the Yakima Valley College, and started his management career with the Yakima Chamber of Commerce in 1968 as the Assistant Manager; and
     WHEREAS, Gary Webster is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce and continues the tradition of the Chamber's leading role in community initiatives; and
     WHEREAS, Gary Webster has dedicated 35 years of service to Chamber work over the last five decades in an effort to make the Chamber a positive force in Central Washington; and
     WHEREAS, Gary Webster has received statewide acclaim and recognition for the Yakima area by serving several terms on the Board of Directors for the Washington Chamber of Commerce Executives including a term as President of the organization, as a former member of the executive committee and board of directors of the Association of Washington Business, as a member of the Governor's Small Business Improvement Council, and as past chairman of the South Central Region III Tourism Council for Washington State; and
     WHEREAS, Gary Webster has received regional acclaim by serving as past president of the Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska Executives Association and Past Chairman of the Columbia River Region Blood Center of the American Red Cross; and
     WHEREAS, Gary Webster has served the citizens of Central Washington through involvement with numerous civic organizations and has received such awards as the Yakima Jaycee Distinguished Service Award (1979) and Citizen of the Year by the Yakima Board of Realtors (1984), has been officially recognized by Phi Delta Kappa for his ongoing contributions to education programs in the Yakima area, was officially honored by his peers at the Northwest Chamber Leaders conference for 30 consecutive years of attendance, and has received the Paul Harris Fellow-Rotary Foundation of Rotary International (1992); and
     WHEREAS, Gary Webster has been responsible for originating or leading several Chamber initiatives that have evolved into important programs or organizations for Yakima and Central Washington including:
     Creating a concept to expand economic development in Yakima County now known as the Yakima County Development Association/New Vision;
     Leading the formation drive and serving as Chair of the Business Coalition of Central Washington, a legislative action group for business and chambers in the central portion of Washington State;
     Authoring the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce's Initiatives 2000 program, which was the beginning of the Business Education Partnership that has received several awards, honors, and national recognition from the National Chamber of Commerce for the development of business partnerships with the education community;
     Coordinating the local funding plan for the construction of the Yakima Valley Sun Dome;
     Developing the original presentation package to attract the Sun Kings franchise, a CBA team which has twice won the Regional Championship;
     Guiding the effort for a $750,000 expansion of the Chamber office into a regional business resource center housing the Chamber, Yakima County Development Association, the Small Business Development Council, and SCORE/SBA;
     Initiating and developing the community vision for the future, known as "For a Better Tomorrow," which has brought a diverse group of Yakima citizens together with the purpose of improving the Upper Valley community;
     Helping build the acclaimed "Leadership Yakima" program, which has educated and graduated over 350 potential community leaders on service to the Yakima community; and
     Being the force behind leading Yakima to the All American City designation in 1994, a two-year project where a hand picked group of local citizens were committed to the promotion of the City of Yakima; and
     WHEREAS, Gary Webster continues to manage the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce committee activities including Image Improvement, Technology for Tomorrow, Transportation, the Ted Robertson Community Service Tribute, Business Exposition, Focus Forum, Community Benchmarking, Yakima Retail Council, Workforce Development, and Membership Services; and
     WHEREAS, Gary Webster has been married to his lovely wife, Phyllis, for 34 years, is a devoted father and grandfather, and has maintained his dignity and respect as a treasured leader of the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce and spokesperson for Central Washington Businesses;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the state of Washington recognize and honor Gary Webster for his outstanding achievements and dedicated efforts to improve the quality of life for the people of the Greater Yakima area and all the citizens of Washington State.