WHEREAS, K. Kyle Thiessen of Olympia, Washington is retiring after a 30-year career in legislative service; and

WHEREAS, Kyle Thiessen graduated from Western Washington University in 1975, and went on to receive his juris doctor from the University of Washington in 1978; and

WHEREAS, After graduation Kyle Thiessen worked as an attorney with the Municipal Research and Services Center, providing legal research for Washington's local governments; and

WHEREAS, Kyle Thiessen began his employment in 1988 with the state of Washington as an attorney for the Code Reviser's Office; and

WHEREAS, Kyle Thiessen became the state's third code reviser in 2005; and

WHEREAS, Legislative staff have benefited for years from Kyle Thiessen's thorough research into gadgets and miscellanea, which he has been more than happy to share in no less than twenty minute increments; and

WHEREAS, The loss of Kyle Thiessen's quick wit and excellent sense of humor will be sorely missed; and

WHEREAS, A retired dictionary editor likely still has nightmares about Kyle Thiessen's campaign—ultimately successful—to have the word "doofus" added to the dictionary; and

WHEREAS, Kyle Thiessen is a frequent traveler to New York and London, where he enjoys watching shows both on and off Broadway and the West End; and

WHEREAS, Kyle Thiessen and his wife, Sara, have long shown hospitality to exchange students, opening their home to help welcome them to Washington state; and

WHEREAS, Kyle Thiessen once exhibited his skill and bravery as a mountaineer by once standing three feet from a mountain goat on the summit of Mt. Ellinor; and

WHEREAS, Kyle Thiessen is a former curler, and staffers have learned that he is more than willing to talk about his experiences on the ice. More. Than. Willing; and

WHEREAS, Kyle Thiessen was a longstanding teammate and mentor to the Senate staff softball team, always the most knowledgeable member of the team about softball and baseball rules and quite often understanding these rules better than the umpire assigned to the game; and

WHEREAS, Kyle Thiessen was a late convert to golf and, while no Tiger Woods, enjoys it immensely and is most likely to be found on the golf course during retirement; and

WHEREAS, Kyle Thiessen is a founding member and multiple champion of the original capitol campus rotisserie baseball league; and

WHEREAS, Kyle has provided many years of dedicated service to the state and has served as mentor, colleague, and friend to not only the staff of the Code Reviser's Office but to all legislative staff on the capitol campus; his example has inspired many people to devote their careers to public service;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate thank and commend K. Kyle Thiessen for his distinguished career of public service and the lasting impact he will leave on the law of Washington state.