WHEREAS, Helen Eugenia Hardin was born in Clovis, New Mexico, on August 17, 1933; and

WHEREAS, Helen attended Vassar College in New York State; graduated from Scripps College in Claremont, California; and earned a Master's degree from Columbia University; and

WHEREAS, In 1960, Helen took a speedwriting course to improve her secretarial skills because the sexism of the era limited her career opportunities to secretarial work. Helen referred to this as a "ghastly part of my life." In Albuquerque, nevertheless, the vocational training proved to be an important career move; and

WHEREAS, In 1961, Helen began working as a secretary in Washington, D.C. for U.S. Senator Clinton Anderson of New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, On the way to the swearing-in ceremony for new senators, Helen met Henry "Scoop" Jackson in an elevator on her first day on the job; and

WHEREAS, Helen and Scoop were married December 16, 1961, at the Central Methodist Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, Helen was a caring wife to Scoop, a loving mother to her two children, Anna Marie Laurence and Peter Jackson, and a loving grandmother to her grandchildren, Jack and Julia; and

WHEREAS, Scoop served the state of Washington faithfully for 30 years in the U.S. Senate after being elected five times to the U.S. House of Representatives and joined with Senator Warren G. Magnuson, making them the most powerful state team in the U.S. Senate; and

WHEREAS, Helen remembered her life with Scoop as wonderful, saying it was a joy to meet so many people; and

WHEREAS, Helen campaigned for Senator Jackson in 1972 and 1976 when he sought the Democratic nomination for President of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Helen was a tireless community activist, civic leader, and philanthropist; and

WHEREAS, Helen returned to the city of Everett, Washington, after her husband's unexpected death in 1983 and became an active member and leader in the community; and

WHEREAS, Helen was renowned for hosting philanthropic fundraisers at her family's home on Grand Avenue, a Colonial-Revival style house, which in 1998 was named to the National Register of Historic Places; and

WHEREAS, Helen supported many local charities including the Imagine Children's Museum, Cocoon House, the Snohomish County Chapter of the American Red Cross, and the Everett Symphony; and

WHEREAS, Helen established the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, and served as its chair, as a living memorial to the late senator; and

WHEREAS, The foundation helps public officials, diplomats, and journalists in addressing international issues by funding scholarships, visiting faculty, and other programs at the University of Washington's Jackson School of International Studies; and

WHEREAS, Helen's son Peter has shared that his mother was the linchpin to Senator Jackson's success and breathed life into his unfinished work; and

WHEREAS, The Helen H. Jackson Endowed Chair in Human Rights at the Jackson School of International Studies was created to recognize her personal commitment to human rights;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor the life of Helen Jackson and remember her work and dedication to the State of Washington; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Helen Jackson's children, Anna Marie Laurence and Peter Jackson.