WHEREAS, The City of Spokane, the State of Washington, and the United States of America lost an outstanding citizen and leader with the passing of Thomas S. Foley on October 18, 2013; and
     WHEREAS, In staying true to his principles and the essentials of his character throughout his life, Tom Foley set an example of personal behavior and public service that should inspire us all; and
     WHEREAS, Tom Foley demonstrated that compassion, courtesy, and a willingness to find common ground strengthens us as a democratic nation; and
     WHEREAS, His distinguished record of achievement and his performance in high national office have earned him a place of lasting honor in the American pantheon; and
     WHEREAS, Thomas Stephen Foley was born in Spokane on March 6, 1929, and after high school at Gonzaga Prep attended Gonzaga University and the University of Washington; and
     WHEREAS, After receiving a bachelor's degree and a law degree from the University of Washington, he entered public service as a deputy prosecutor in Spokane County; and
     WHEREAS, He first ran for the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1964, defeating a long-time incumbent in the Fifth Congressional District; and
     WHEREAS, His constituents in the Fifth Congressional District would choose him to represent them in Congress for fourteen additional terms until 1995; and
     WHEREAS, His decency and integrity gained him the respect of his colleagues, and he rose steadily through the ranks of leadership in the House of Representatives; and
     WHEREAS, He was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1989, the first member of Congress from west of the Rocky Mountains to hold that exalted constitutional position; and
     WHEREAS, He presided over the House of Representatives with dignity and fairness, winning the admiration of allies and opponents, and forging a reputation for problem-solving through compromise and conciliation; and
     WHEREAS, His tenure as Speaker was such that his then-Republican counterpart, Minority Leader Robert Michel, would later describe him as "a gentleman of the House, a fair and honest broker, and a worthy adversary"; and
     WHEREAS, After completing his congressional tenure, he was appointed by President Clinton in 1997 to represent his nation as United States Ambassador to Japan; and
     WHEREAS, He returned to Washington, D.C. and to the private practice of law in 1995, and in 2003 was awarded his native state's highest honor, the Washington Medal of Merit;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the State of Washington celebrate the life, the work, and the lasting legacy of Thomas Stephen Foley; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to Speaker Foley's wife and life companion, Heather Foley, to his sister, Maureen Latimer, to his friend Joe Powell, to the Thomas S. Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service at Washington State University, to Gonzaga University, and to the University of Washington.