1Honoring the life of former Pennsylvania Governor George M.
2Leader, who died on May 9, 2013.

3WHEREAS, George Michael Leader, 36th Governor of the
4Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, originally from York, York County,
5and later of Hershey, Dauphin County, died on May 9, 2013, at 95
6years of age following a brief illness; and

7WHEREAS, Governor Leader was born on January 17, 1918, grew
8up on his parents' York County poultry farm and graduated from
9William Penn Senior High School in York; and

10WHEREAS, Governor Leader furthered his education with an
11undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and an
12honorary master of governmental administration degree from the
13Fels Institute at the University of Pennsylvania; and

14WHEREAS, Governor Leader began his public service in the

1United States Navy during World War II as a Supply Corps Officer
2on the U.S.S. Randolph; and

3WHEREAS, Governor Leader was first elected to public office
4in 1950 as State Senator for the 28th Senatorial District, a
5position he served in for four years before embarking on his
6successful 1954 Gubernatorial election; and

7WHEREAS, Governor Leader was sworn in as the Commonwealth's
836th Governor on January 18, 1955, a day after his 37th
9birthday, becoming the second youngest Pennsylvanian to serve as
10Governor; and

11WHEREAS, Governor Leader focused his efforts on improving the
12Commonwealth's mental health facilities, protecting civil rights
13for minorities, increasing funding for education, making special
14education a requirement in Pennsylvania schools, reforming
15government and implementing economic development programs; and

16WHEREAS, Governor Leader's commitment to Pennsylvania and its
17citizens continued well beyond his years as an elected official,
18by virtue of his founding of several senior living facilities,
19including Country Meadows and Providence Place; and

20WHEREAS, Governor Leader remained a steadfast community
21servant until his death, providing guidance to his gubernatorial
22successors on State matters and volunteering with organizations
23for the betterment of society, including those with a focus on
24prison reform and international efforts in Ghana; and

25WHEREAS, Governor Leader was the son of the late Guy and
26Beulah Leader, the husband of the late Mary Jane (Strickler)
27Leader, whom he married in 1939, and the father of the late Fred
28Leader; and

29WHEREAS, Governor Leader is survived by son, George Michael
30Leader, III, and his wife, Karen; daughter, Jane Leader Janeczek

1and her husband, Ted; son, David Charles Leader and his wife
2Liesa; daughter-in-law, Anne Gardner Leader, widow of his son,
3Fred; brother Henry B. Leader; 12 grandchildren and two great-
4grandsons; and

5WHEREAS, A funeral service is to be held on Thursday, May 16,
62013, in the Derry Presbyterian Church, Hershey, to be followed
7by a private burial service; and

8WHEREAS, Governor George M. Leader served his Commonwealth
9and community with the utmost integrity and dedication;
10therefore be it

11RESOLVED, That the Senate honor the life of Governor George
12Michael Leader, who died on May 9, 2013.