HOUSE RESOLUTION 12

(By Delegates Bates, Steele, Pack, Toney and on Behalf of the Members of the House of Delegates)

[Introduced February 20, 2020]

Memorializing the life of the Honorable Sally Matz Susman, proud mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, journalist, public servant and West Virginian.

Whereas, Sally Matz Susman, was born on June 14, 1930, in Bluefield, West Virginia, daughter of the late Rose Caplan and Nathan Matz. In addition to her parents, Sally was preceded in death by her husband, Alan Land Susman, and is survived by her children, daughter Robin Susman Wartella and her husband Bradley Paul, son Benjamin Matz Susman and his wife Dixie Pullins, and son Thomas Land Susman and his wife Carol Lynn, and her six grandchildren: Alisa Rae Wartella, Leigh Matz Wartella, Jennifer Rose Susman, Courtney Lynn Susman, Austin David Susman, and Michael Alan Susman; and two great-grandchildren: John Carlson Hutchinson and Miles Alan Hutchinson; and

Whereas, Sally Susman graduated high school from Brenau Academy in Gainesville,

Georgia, and received her bachelor's degree in journalism from The Ohio State University in

Columbus, Ohio; and

            Whereas, Sally, for many years, was a member of the fourth estate, as a newspaper publisher and editor, operating the Mullens Advocate in Mullens, West Virginia, and the Gulf Times in Sophia, West Virginia; and

            Whereas, Sally also served as the director of Bank of Mount Hope and the Raleigh County National Bank, and volunteered her time as a member of the Advisory Board for the West Virginia University School of Medicine, and as a board member of the West Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges; and

            Whereas Sally’s numerous activities in her local community include being a member of the Coalfield Expressway, volunteering for the Beckley Garden Club, the Beckley Women's Club, the West Virginia Chapter of the NAACP, and numerous other community service organizations; and

            Whereas, Fueled by her passion and desire to contribute to her community, Sally Susman was elected to serve two terms on Raleigh County Board of Education; and then subsequently ran for and was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates and proudly represented the 27^th District of Raleigh and Summers Counties for ten years, from 1999 until 2006 and again from 2009 to 2010; and

Whereas, Through her service in the House of Delegates, Delegate Susman served on numerous committees, most notably serving as Vice-Chair of the Committee on Constitutional Revision and Vice-Chair of the Committee on Political Subdivisions, and as Chair of the Employee Suggestion Award Board; and

            Whereas, Sally’s commitment to education, health care, and ensuring equality among all West Virginians will forever be remembered and reflected in her amiable legacy; and

            Whereas, Delegate Susman was never afraid to speak her mind; and

            Whereas, During her service with the House of Delegates, she developed many close friendships with other members and House staff and will always be appreciated and remembered by those of us at the House of Delegates who had the honor to know her kindness, generosity and friendship;

            Whereas, Sadly, West Virginia lost a fine citizen, committed and respected public servant, giving and dedicated friend to many. The Honorable Sally Matz Susman passed away on December 23, 2019; therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Delegates:

That the House of Delegates hereby memorializes the life of the Honorable Sally Matz Susman, proud mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, journalist, public servant, loyal and caring West Virginian; and be it

 Further Resolved, That the House of Delegates hereby extends its sincere sympathy to

her family at the passing of the Honorable Sally Matz Susman; and be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a copy of

this resolution to the family of the Honorable Sally Matz Susman.