WHEREAS, It is the policy of the Washington State House of Representatives to recognize excellence in all fields of endeavor; and

WHEREAS, Steve Caffery has exhibited true excellence throughout his personal, professional, and public life; and

WHEREAS, Steve Caffery has exhibited the highest levels of excellence during his lengthy years of public service; and

WHEREAS, Steve Caffery attended and received an undergraduate degree in technical theater at California State University and then attended an MFA program in performing arts administration at Brooklyn College; and

WHEREAS, Steve Caffery married Anne Napier, who is the CEO for the Memorial Foundation, Vice President of Communications and Development at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, and also a community leader, and together they have two daughters and three granddaughters; and

WHEREAS, Steve Caffery worked in and managed regional theatres in New York, Arkansas, and Oregon before moving to Yakima, Washington; and

WHEREAS, The Capitol Theatre originally opened in 1920 as the largest theatre in the Pacific Northwest, and for many years it was the crown jewel of Pantages style theatres, but it eventually fell into disrepair and was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1975; and

WHEREAS, A community effort began in Yakima to rebuild the Capitol Theatre to its former glory and it reopened in 1978 in the reconstruction of its grand old style; and

WHEREAS, The community brought in Steve Caffery to lead the effort for the Capitol Theatre to once again serve as the crown jewel of theatres in the Pacific Northwest; and

WHEREAS, Steve Caffery has been the CEO of the Capitol Theatre for the past 26 years, expanding it under his watch to include the construction of a new production center and the black-box 4th Street Theatre; and

WHEREAS, Steve Caffery led the Capitol Theatre through times of financial struggle during rough times in the economy, but helped to get the organization's finances back in shape to where it is thriving and profitable; and

WHEREAS, Under Steve Caffery's leadership, the Capitol Theatre has become an important part of Yakima's arts, with its stage being home to the productions of numerous local organizations such as the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, Town Hall, and Community Concerts, and annual attendance now exceeding Yakima's population; and

WHEREAS, Steve Caffery and his wife, Anne, have been actively involved in Rotary, hosting more than a dozen exchange students from throughout the world and cochairing the 2004 Rotary District 5060 Conference in Yakima; and

WHEREAS, Steve Caffery has been a key player in the economic and cultural development of downtown Yakima, having served as the President of the Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau and Vice President of the Yakima Downtown Association; and

WHEREAS, Steve Caffery is retiring as Capitol Theatre's CEO after many years of dedicated service to the community;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House of Representatives honor Steve Caffery for his years of dedicated service, his personal and professional integrity, and for making Yakima and the state of Washington a better place to live, work, and raise a family; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to Steve Caffery.