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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8434
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Passed Legislature - 1988 Reg.
State of Washington 50th Legislature 1988 Regular Session
By Senators Patterson, Anderson, Bailey, Barr, Bauer, Bender, Benitz, Bluechel, Cantu, Conner, Craswell, Deccio, DeJarnatt, Fleming, Garrett, Gaspard, Halsan, Hansen, Hayner, Johnson, Kiskaddon, Kreidler, Lee, Madsen, McCaslin, McDonald, McMullen, Metcalf, Moore, Nelson, Newhouse, Niemi, Owen, Pullen, Rasmussen, Rinehart, Saling, Sellar, Smith, Smitherman, Stratton, Talmadge, Vognild, von Reichbauer, Warnke, West, Williams, Wojahn and Zimmerman
Read first time 2/3/88. Under suspension of rules, advanced to second reading and held on calendar.
WHEREAS, Elmer C. Huntley served the citizens of Whitman County in the Washington State Legislature for fourteen years, commencing in 1957, with dedication and distinction; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the eight years that he served in the House of Representatives and the six years in the Senate, he directed his energies toward seeking improvements in state programs, particularly in the areas of education, agriculture, utilities, and transportation; and
WHEREAS, Elmer Huntley played a significant role in the decision-making process for the state's long-range highway and bridge program, serving a total of fourteen years on the interim Joint Committee on Highways and in the respective House of Representatives and Senate Transportation Committees; and
WHEREAS, Many milestones in state transportation planning and construction programs were reached with his assistance during this period, such as the commencement of a modern interstate highway system; the second Lake Washington Bridge; adoption of the scenic and recreational highway system; establishment of the state-wide rest area program; creation of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, the Urban Arterial Board, and the Driver Education Program; and adoption of the implied consent law; and
WHEREAS, As Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Highways in 1963, Representative Huntley initiated the Highway Priority Programming Act, which significantly eliminated political log-rolling from the highways sector by developing a fourteen-year long-range plan for highway development through specific criteria established by the Highway Commission; and
WHEREAS, Elmer Huntley's influence in transportation matters extended beyond the boundaries of the state, as he served as Chairman of the Western State Legislative Leaders' Transportation Committee; also on the Executive Board of the Western Conference of Highway Users, and the National Proration and Reciprocity Committee, which led to the adoption of the prorate formula for truck licensing and fuel tax adopted by many states; and
WHEREAS, Elmer Huntley left the House of Representatives in 1965, at the request of Governor Daniel J. Evans, to serve as a member of the Washington State Highway Commission, and was elected Chairman the following year, serving with distinction during a period that saw the nation's dream of the federal interstate highway system begin to unfold in Washington state. During this time he was also a member of the Washington Toll Bridge Authority; and
WHEREAS, Elmer Huntley was appointed in 1965 to the Washington State Senate to replace Senator Marshall Neil, representing the citizens of the 9th legislative district of Whitman, Lincoln, and Adams counties, continuing his outstanding career as a thoughtful legislator and advocate for an updated state transportation system; and
WHEREAS, Elmer Huntley was appointed by the President of the United States to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHSTA) in 1969 for a term of three years; and
WHEREAS, Elmer Huntley was appointed to the Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission, serving from 1973 to 1979; during that time he was a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). He was chairman of the committee which produced the uniform system of accounts manual used by the states in determining utility rates for private utilities;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That the Washington State Legislature recognize and extend its best wishes to a very respected and well-liked former member for his abilities and accomplishments; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington State Transportation Commission commence proceedings to change the name of Bridge No. 10 across the Snake River on State Route No. 127 at Central Ferry, which connects Whitman and Garfield Counties, to the Elmer C. Huntley Bridge; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitably inscribed copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Washington State Transportation Commission and to former-Senator Huntley and his wife, Necia.