IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION commending Missouri State Senator Harry Wiggins (District 10) for 28 years of dedicated service and commitment to public affairs in the State of Missouri.
Intro
RESOLUTION # 14229, June 17, 2002
INTRODUCED BY Victor Callahan, Dan Tarwater, Bill Petrie, Fred Arbanas,
Terry Young, Ronald E. Finley, Scott Burnett, Dennis Waits,
and Bob Spence, County Legislators
Body
WHEREAS, following the 2002 legislative term, Senator Harry Wiggins, the senior member of Kansas City's Capitol delegation will leave his post after 28 years of dedicated service; and,
WHEREAS, Senator Wiggins was born in Kansas City, attended grade school and high school in Kansas City, and graduated from Rockhurst College in 1953, where he also served as student body president; and,
WHEREAS, after graduating from Rockhurst, he received a three-year scholarship to attend St. Louis University School of Law, where he earned his law degree; and,
WHEREAS, he served in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1959 before returning to Kansas City to start his legal practice; and,
WHEREAS, he began his career in public service when he was appointed by U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri; and,
WHEREAS, his record has been impressive throughout the years. In 1998, he sponsored legislation to fight the methamphetamine scourge in this community which has been considered a model for the nation; and,
WHEREAS, he has been the father of various laws that have benefitted the State of Missouri including the 911 emergency telephone system authorization; the Early Childhood Development Act, which created the nationally heralded Parents as Teachers program; the Neighborhood Improvement District Act, which has financed roads and neighborhood infrastructure improvements; the bi-state cultural district law, which resulted in the two-state cooperation to restore Union Station; a law establishing a system for securing DNA profiles of convicted felons; creation of the Missouri Department of Health, and several important school reform and financing laws; and,
WHEREAS, he was elected to the Senate in 1974, serving as Assistant Majority Floor Leader from 1979-1981 and Majority Floor Leader from 1981 through1985; and,
WHEREAS, he sponsored 2002 legislation including (SB-0739) Uniform Athlete Agents Act, (SB -0740) Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act and (SB 0940) creating new restrictions on payday loans; and,
WHEREAS, he co-sponsored 2002 legislation including (SB-0839) Prohibiting certain predatory lending practices with respect to home loans, (SB 1164) to create the Sports Center Redevelopment Authority Act, and (SB-1279) to create several community development projects; and,
WHEREAS, Senator Wiggins speaks proudly of (SB 0634), legislation which authorizes additional annual funding for the Truman Sports Complex; and,
WHEREAS, a few of his memberships and affiliations include: St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church; Rockhurst College Alumni Association; Greater Kansas City Alumni Association, Alpha Sigma Nu; Alpha Delta Gamma, past national president; Phi Delta Phi; National Conference of Uniform State Law Commissioners; National Conference of State Legislators; Federal Budget and Taxation committee, chair; Senate Ways and Means Committee and Joint Committee of Legislative Research, chair and vice-chairman of the Appropriations Committee and Public Health and Welfare Committee; and,
WHEREAS, throughout his career he has served in many capacities including state supervisor, Department of Liquor Control; Jackson County Court Western Judge; Law Enforcement Assistance Council and general counsel for the Missouri Public Service Commission; and,
WHEREAS, his awards and honors include:1997 Mid-America Regional Council's Regional Leadership award; 1994 induction to the Missouri Academy of Squires, which recognizes Missouri's 100 most distinguished living citizens; 2000 Kansas City Royals' "Mr. Baseball in Kansas City" award; 2002 "Tiger Roar" award from the University of Missouri Alumni Association; Associated PTA's 2001 Missouri's greatest advocate for children award and the 2001 Charles Evans Whittaker award, presented annually to the outstanding lawyer in Kansas City; and,
WHEREAS, Senator Wiggins will join the legal team of Blackwell, Sanders, Peper, Martin, LLP; and,
WHEREAS, "My 28 years in the Missouri Senate have been challenging and rewarding" said Senator Wiggins, "and I would not trade them for anything;" now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the County Legislature of Jackson County, Missouri, that the Legislature hereby commends Missouri State Senator Harry Wiggins for 28 years of dedicated service to the State of Missouri.
Enacted and Approved
Effective Date: This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon its passage by a majority of the Legislature.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________ ____________________________________
County Counselor
Certificate of Passage
I hereby certify that the attached resolution, Resolution # 14229 of June 17, 2002 was duly passed on ___________June 17______________, 2002 by the Jackson County Legislature. The votes thereon were as follows:
Yeas _________8___________ Nays _________0__________
Abstaining _______0_________ Absent _______1__________
__________________________ ____________________________________
Date Mary Jo Spino, Clerk of Legislature