HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2001-4605, by Representatives Bush, Campbell, Ahern, Alexander, Anderson, Armstrong, Ballard, Ballasiotes, Barlean, Benson, Boldt, Buck, Cairnes, Carrell, Casada, B. Chandler, G. Chandler, Chopp, Clements, Cody, Conway, Cooper, Cox, Crouse, Darneille, DeBolt, Delvin, Dickerson, Doumit, Dunn, Dunshee, Edmonds, Edwards, Eickmeyer, Ericksen, Esser, Fisher, Fromhold, Gombosky, Grant, Haigh, Hankins, Hatfield, Hunt, Hurst, Jackley, Jarrett, Kagi, Keiser, Kenney, Kessler, Kirby, Lambert, Lantz, Linville, Lisk, Lovick, Marine, Mastin, McDermott, McIntire, McMorris, Mielke, Miloscia, Mitchell, Morell, Morris, Mulliken, Murray, O'Brien, Ogden, Pearson, Pennington, Pflug, Poulsen, Quall, Reardon, Roach, Rockefeller, Romero, Ruderman, Santos, Schindler, D. Schmidt, Schoesler, Schual‑Berke, Sehlin, Simpson, Skinner, H. Sommers, Sump, Talcott, Tokuda, Van Luven, Veloria, Wood and Woods

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

       WHEREAS, Every day school bus drivers, brave souls who are undaunted by the daily challenge of piloting large vehicles packed with unpredictable kids, endeavor to do their best for the well-being of our schools and kids; and

       WHEREAS, Cheryl Mooring, of Spanaway, Washington exhibited excellence, self-sacrifice, and honor in taking action to protect the lives and well-being of young people in danger; and

       WHEREAS, Cheryl Mooring, an eleven-year veteran Bethel School District bus driver, did her profession proud and made Bethel parents and school officials eternally grateful by quickly rescuing her twenty-two student passengers in a fiery early-morning crash; and

       WHEREAS, Cheryl Mooring was involved in the crash that happened about 7 a.m. on a Monday morning on Meridian Avenue East south of Graham, killing the driver of a sport utility vehicle and closing a stretch of the highway for several hours; and

       WHEREAS, Cheryl Mooring was pinned in her seat after the crash but managed to free herself in time to immediately evacuate twenty-two Frontier Junior High School students within thirty seconds as the bus filled with smoke; and

       WHEREAS, Cheryl Mooring, with the lights out and although her glasses had disappeared and her leg was badly gashed, made her way to the back of the bus with her arms spread out feeling for students in each seat as she went along; and

       WHEREAS, By the time fire crews arrived, the sport utility vehicle was engulfed in flames and the fire had spread to the school bus melting seats to the back of the bus; and

       WHEREAS, Cheryl Mooring was able to perform her heroic act with the help of several courageous students who assisted her; and

       WHEREAS, More tragic injuries may have occurred had the bus not been so well designed, the students so responsive, and the bus driver so well trained and devoted to her passengers' safety; and

       WHEREAS, Cheryl Mooring, when asked about her feat, humbly stated, "I knew how many kids I had and I counted them all.  I did what I had to do and I didn't even think about it";

       NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the state of Washington honor Cheryl Mooring for her dedicated commitment to the young people who ride her school bus and for her heroic act in preserving the health, safety, and lives of the students; and

       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Co-Chief Clerks of the House of Representatives to Cheryl Mooring.

              I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

              Resolution 4605 adopted by the House of Representatives

                                 January 23, 2001.

________________________________                      _____________________________

Timothy A. Martin, Co-Chief Clerk                   Cynthia Zehnder, Co-Chief Clerk