By Senators Hunt, Rossi, Frockt, Warnick, Conway, Miloscia, Carlyle, Fortunato, Ranker, Baumgartner, Darneille, Cleveland, Angel, Chase, Nelson, Mullet, McCoy, Zeiger, Hobbs, King, Takko, O'Ban, Pedersen, Keiser, Sheldon, Bailey, Rolfes, Rivers, Kuderer, Saldaña, Schoesler, Palumbo, Wilson, Hasegawa, Fain, Hawkins, Billig, Ericksen, Braun, Short, Brown, Pearson, Walsh, Becker, Honeyford, Liias, Wellman, and Van De Wege

WHEREAS, Marty Brown of Olympia, Washington is retiring after an illustrious and unparalleled 40-year career in public service; and

WHEREAS, Martin Henry Brown was born in Iowa Falls, Iowa, on May 20, 1952, to Velma and Henry Brown; and

WHEREAS, Marty entered a life of public service and involvement at an early age as the son of a high school teacher and an electrician who both served as party precinct captains; and

WHEREAS, Marty further caught the political bug when he had the opportunity to meet Senator George McGovern after being bitten by a dog while doorbelling for the candidate; and

WHEREAS, Marty is an alumnus of Ellsworth Community College and the University of Iowa, where he served as a resident advisor and was a member of the skydiving club; and

WHEREAS, Marty has always been an avid supporter of the Iowa Jayhawks Hawkeyes, known to wax poetic over the wrestling dominance of Dan Gable and the coaching acumen of Hayden Fry and Dr. Tom Davis; and

WHEREAS, After working a short time with the Iowa Legislature, Marty left the snowy plains of Iowa to attend and eventually graduate from law school at the University of Puget Sound; and

WHEREAS, During law school, Marty began working as senate committee staff, spending so much time in Olympia that he unwittingly met one of his professors for the first time midway through the term playing a pickup basketball game; and

WHEREAS, Marty began his career as senate committee staff in 1978, narrowly missing out on PERS 1 eligibility; and

WHEREAS, Marty helped the senate members and staff weather tumultuous times in 1981 when the majority switched early in the legislative session; and

WHEREAS, Marty progressed to Senate Democratic Caucus Attorney, Senate Democratic Staff Director, coach of the infamous Raucous Caucus softball team, and ultimately Secretary of the Senate from 1993 to 1997; and

WHEREAS, Marty was taught by his cherished friend and mentor, Senator Sid Snyder, that a good story can be told over and over; and

WHEREAS, Marty's rule of response has always been, "If the person asks once, ignore it; twice, remember it; and take it seriously the third time."; and

WHEREAS, Marty himself has learned a story or two in his years of public service, and he tells both of them over and over again; and

WHEREAS, Marty was appointed Director of Legislative Affairs by Governor Gary Locke, and later served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of the Office of Financial Management; and

WHEREAS, Under Governor Christine Gregoire, Marty once again served as Director of Legislative Affairs and Director of the Office of Financial Management; and

WHEREAS, While working at his current position as the Executive Director of the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges, Marty helped the system win several coveted grants and awards that moved Washington State community and technical colleges into the national spotlight; and

WHEREAS, Marty's commitment to improving higher education in Washington State facilitated the creation of several valuable applied degree programs, creating new career opportunities for thousands of students; and

WHEREAS, Marty is a well-respected leader and negotiator who managed and guided important and challenging policy initiatives throughout his career, particularly during tough financial times, while maintaining a calm demeanor, sharp sense of humor, and respect for all; and

WHEREAS, Marty earned a reputation far and wide that if "you wanted to get something done in Olympia, you went to see Marty Brown"; and

WHEREAS, Marty is known for being very decisive and never letting moss grow under his feet and for responding to long emails and complicated questions with short answers like Yes, No, Thnx, and Call me; and

WHEREAS, All those who have had the misfortune to follow in Marty's footsteps in the Senate, Governor's Office, and Office of Financial Management have been chagrined that he excelled and set the bar so high in each of the positions he held; and

WHEREAS, Throughout Marty's career in state government, countless individuals have sought and relied upon his unfailingly good advice, sound judgment, and considerable expertise, including parliamentary questions; and

WHEREAS, Marty has been married to his beloved wife Kate, who works for the Office of Financial Management, for nearly 35 years; and

WHEREAS, Marty and Kate raised two talented and upstanding sons, Sam and Max, who have followed them into public service, one of whom works for us on senate committee staff; and

WHEREAS, Marty will no doubt be spending ample time in retirement with his five lovely and energetic grandchildren, Maddox, Thomas, Ryder, Rowan, and David, who affectionately know him as "Bah"; and

WHEREAS, Marty is a dedicated and passionate volunteer youth sports coach, teaching his children, grandchildren, and others the values of teamwork, selflessness, fair play, and humility through baseball and basketball;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate thank and commend Mr. Marty Brown for his many years of outstanding public service and wish him all the best in retirement; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Marty Brown, his family, and the members of the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges.