PRINTER'S NO. 4564
No. 952 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY GOODMAN, McCALL, ARGALL, SEIP, SCAVELLO, CARROLL,
ADOLPH, BAKER, BEAR, BELFANTI, BENNINGHOFF, BENNINGTON,
BEYER, BISHOP, BOBACK, BRENNAN, BROOKS, BUXTON, CALTAGIRONE,
CAUSER, CIVERA, CLYMER, COHEN, CONKLIN, COSTA, COX, CURRY,
CUTLER, DALEY, DALLY, DENLINGER, DePASQUALE, DERMODY,
DeWEESE, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, EACHUS, D. EVANS, EVERETT,
FABRIZIO, FAIRCHILD, FLECK, FRANKEL, GALLOWAY, GEIST, GEORGE,
GERBER, GERGELY, GIBBONS, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GODSHALL,
GRELL, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HARHART, HARKINS, HARRIS, HELM,
HENNESSEY, HERSHEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, HUTCHINSON, JAMES,
JOSEPHS, KAUFFMAN, M. KELLER, KENNEY, KESSLER, KIRKLAND,
KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, LEVDANSKY, LONGIETTI, MACKERETH, MAHER,
MAJOR, MANDERINO, MANN, MANTZ, MARKOSEK, MARSHALL, MARSICO,
McGEEHAN, McILHATTAN, MELIO, MENSCH, MICOZZIE, MILLARD,
R. MILLER, MOUL, MOYER, MUNDY, MURT, MUSTIO, NAILOR,
D. O'BRIEN, M. O'BRIEN, OLIVER, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PARKER,
PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PAYTON, PEIFER, PERRY, PERZEL, PETRARCA,
PETRI, PETRONE, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PRESTON, PYLE, QUINN,
RAMALEY, RAPP, RAYMOND, READSHAW, REED, REICHLEY, ROAE, ROCK,
ROEBUCK, ROHRER, ROSS, RUBLEY, SABATINA, SAINATO, SAMUELSON,
SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCHRODER, SHAPIRO, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH,
S. H. SMITH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, STABACK, STAIRS, STEIL, STERN,
R. STEVENSON, STURLA, SURRA, SWANGER, TANGRETTI, J. TAYLOR,
R. TAYLOR, TRUE, TURZAI, VEREB, VITALI, VULAKOVICH, WANSACZ,
WATSON, WHEATLEY, WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD AND YUDICHAK,
NOVEMBER 12, 2008
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
NOVEMBER 12, 2008
A RESOLUTION
1 Honoring the life and service of Senator James J. Rhoades, who
2 died on October 18, 2008, and expressing sincere condolences
3 to his wife and children.
4 WHEREAS, James J. Rhoades was born on December 5, 1941, in
5 Waterbury, Connecticut; and
6 WHEREAS, Senator Rhoades passed away as the result of
1 injuries suffered in a tragic automobile accident on October 18,
2 2008; and
3 WHEREAS, Senator Rhoades dedicated his entire life to public
4 service and to Pennsylvania's young people, starting with his
5 service as a beloved teacher and athletic coach at Pottsville
6 High School and Mahanoy City High School; and
7 WHEREAS, Senator Rhoades' excellence as an educator led to
8 his being named principal of Mahanoy Area Middle School in 1971;
9 and
10 WHEREAS, Senator Rhoades entered a new arena of public
11 service with his election to the office of State Senator of the
12 29th Senatorial District in 1980; and
13 WHEREAS, Senator Rhoades used his experience as an educator
14 to become one of the General Assembly's most outspoken advocates
15 for better schools and a brighter future for students; and
16 WHEREAS, Senator Rhoades rose to the post of chairman of the
17 Education Committee of the Senate; and
18 WHEREAS, Senator Rhoades led the effort to, among many other
19 initiatives to benefit schools and students, pass legislation
20 guaranteeing safer schools, improving access to early education
21 programs and promoting safer athletic programs; and
22 WHEREAS, Senator Rhoades never lost sight of his coal-region
23 roots, advocating for a safer, more vital coal mining industry;
24 and
25 WHEREAS, Senator Rhoades represented a district with a large
26 population of older Pennsylvanians, and he led the effort to
27 improve access to affordable prescription medicine for seniors;
28 and
29 WHEREAS, Senator Rhoades was an exemplary member of the
30 Senate with a long and distinguished career of service to the
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1 people of Schuylkill, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Monroe
2 Counties, and his loss will be sorely felt by the people of his
3 district and this entire Commonwealth; and
4 WHEREAS, Senator Rhoades was the devoted father of three
5 children and grandfather of seven grandchildren; therefore be it
6 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor Senator
7 James J. Rhoades for his lifelong service to the people of this
8 Commonwealth and with deep sorrow express sincere condolences to
9 his family; and be it further
10 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
11 Mrs. Mary Edith Rhoades, 1000 East Centre Street, Mahanoy City,
12 PA 17948.
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