WHEREAS, John McKibbin was one of Clark County's most well-known and, more importantly, well-respected citizens, serving in many leadership positions for decades; and

WHEREAS, John was a Clark County resident since 1969 and taught at Vancouver's Columbia River High School before becoming a 49th District legislator in 1974, serving two terms in the House of Representatives, and then a Clark County Commissioner in 1978, winning with an impressive 71 percent of the vote; and

WHEREAS, Upon leaving elected office in 1990, John dedicated himself to serving Clark County through volunteer work that included serving as president and chief executive officer of the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce; and

WHEREAS, John's latest effort to encourage greater public engagement in southwest Washington was his founding of Identity Clark County and Leadership Clark County; and

WHEREAS, John combined an enthusiasm for life with seemingly endless energy and that rare ability to reach across divides and disagreements to bring people together, particularly when the cause was the betterment of his community; and

WHEREAS, John was always the visionary and at the end of his life was organizing a diverse group of southwest Washington business and education leaders to implement "The Pearson Field Initiative," a STEM-based education opportunity centered on aerospace and aviation careers at Vancouver's Pearson Field; and

WHEREAS, John loved aviation and his early 1940s North American AT-6A, with its polished aluminum body and bright red nose and tail, and was a passionate member of, and advocate for, the Pearson Field community; and

WHEREAS, John never did anything halfway, was never at a loss for words, and never met a challenge he could not overcome, and will be remembered by many in Clark County as an amazing strategic thinker who always had time for everyone; and

WHEREAS, John was a man of strong faith and a dedicated husband who lit up at the very mention of his beloved wife Nancy, to whom he was married for more than 40 years, as well as a proud father of Megan and Jennifer and a grandfather, to which family we extend our most heartfelt sympathies; and

WHEREAS, We also extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Irene Mustain, who was the passenger on John's plane and for whom he was performing his final selfless act of service to the widow of a United States Air Force veteran;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor and remember the life and legacy of John McKibbin, dedicated public servant and leader, who will be missed by his family, friends, and those who had the good fortune of meeting him and working with him; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to John McKibbin's wife, Nancy McKibbin; and to his two daughters, Megan and Jennifer.