WHEREAS, Fred Oldfield was born on March 18, 1918, in Alfalfa, Washington, and raised on the Yakima Indian Reservation near Toppenish, where his youth was filled with the cowboy life of covered wagons, horses, farming, and trail rides; and
     WHEREAS, His experiences as a young man and a cowhand would later populate his paintings; and
     WHEREAS, As one of the granddaddies of Western Art, The Fred Oldfield Western Heritage Center was built in 2002 and is dedicated to the preservation of Fred's dream - sharing his love of life, Western Art, and the history of the American West for all generations; and
     WHEREAS, The title of an "unconventional man" has been given to Fred as he has gone against all odds to spend his life working at his passion - painting; and
     WHEREAS, Fred has won numerous awards for his work and at almost age 90, PBS has just released the series "Painting the West with Fred Oldfield"; and
     WHEREAS, Fred Oldfield remains very active in his Pacific Northwest community and has raised over a million dollars by donating his paintings to causes that benefit children and community needs; and
     WHEREAS, His favorite recognition is the look in the eyes of children as he tells them about his days on the range, time around the campfire, eating from the chuck wagon, helping your neighbors with old time barn raisings, all while they are painting together; and
     WHEREAS, There will be a 90th birthday gala to be held at the Puyallup Fairgrounds on March 29th, preceded by two weeks of Whooping! Whistling! Shouting! & Stomping!; and
     WHEREAS, The Governor will proclaim March 18, 2008, "Fred Oldfield Day";
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate join in celebrating Fred Oldfield Day to honor this remarkable man; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Fred Oldfield, The Fred Oldfield Western Heritage Center, the City of Puyallup, the Governor, and the Lieutenant Governor.