HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2020-4676

HR 4676

ByRepresentative Dufault

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

WHEREAS, Greg G. Stewart was born in Olympia, Washington, and attended Centralia College and Washington State University where he graduated with a degree in agricultural economics; and

WHEREAS, Greg Stewart served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1969, including a tour of duty in Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, Greg Stewart and his wife, Karen, have been married since November 4, 1967, and raised two daughters, Tami and Stephanie; and

WHEREAS, Greg Stewart was hired in 1972 by the Central Washington Fair Association to be the assistant general manager under long time fair manager Hugh J. King; and

WHEREAS, When Hugh J. King retired in 1973, Greg was appointed general manager of what was then a five-day fair, overseeing a full-time staff of three people; and

WHEREAS, Under Greg Stewart's leadership, the one hundred twenty acre Central Washington Fairgrounds were transformed with renovations to the historic Agriculture Building, Modern Living Building, Pioneer Hall, and Expo Hall; and

WHEREAS, Greg Stewart oversaw construction of new buildings on the fairgrounds, including the Deccio Administration building; the Yakima County Stadium, where the Yakima Valley Pippins minor league baseball team plays; the eight thousand seat, thirteen million dollar Yakima Valley SunDome, where the Yakima Sun Kings play; and a host of other events that are held throughout the year, including concerts and rodeos; and

WHEREAS, Greg Stewart helped to build the fairgrounds, now known as State Fair Park, into a statewide attraction, with twenty-three full-time employees, a ten-day event that is recognized as one of the premier events in the Northwest, and which has become the largest single-family entertainment event in Eastern Washington with more than three hundred thousand visitors each year; and

WHEREAS, Under Greg Stewart's guidance in 2000, the former Yakima Meadows horse racetrack was turned into a racetrack for sprint cars and dirt track autos; and

WHEREAS, Greg Stewart was involved in numerous professional and community activities, including the Yakima Rotary Club, Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce, Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau, and became the recipient of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions Hall of Fame award and leadership award from the Yakima Latino Professional Association; and

WHEREAS, Greg Stewart recently retired as general manager and fair board president after an illustrious and unparalleled forty-eight year career dedicated to the State of Washington and its fair industry;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the State of Washington recognize Gregory G. Stewart for his outstanding achievements and public service to his community, fair goers, and the State of Washington; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to Greg Stewart and his family.