HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 43
(By Delegates Guthrie, Anderson, Armstead, Barker, Beach, Brown,
Butcher, Canterbury, Craig, Doyle, Eldridge, Ellem, Fleischauer,
Frazier, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hartman, Hatfield, Hunt, Iaquinta,
Ireland, Kominar, Lane, Longstreth, Louisos, Manchin, Marshall,
Martin, Miley, Moore, Morgan, Moye, Perdue, Perry, D. Poling, M.
Poling, Reynolds, Rodighiero, Ross, Shook, Skaff, Sobonya,
Spencer, Staggers, Stephens, Stowers, Sumner, Susman, Tabb,
Talbott, Webster, Wells, White, Williams and Wooton)
Memorializing the life of Glenn Thomas "Tom" Searls, reporter
extraordinaire, friend, Marshall University alum, and loyal
West Virginian.
Whereas, Glenn Thomas "Tom" Searls was born in 1954 in Kanawha
County, the son of Glenn Cheetwood Searls and the late Carol
Canterbury Searls; and
Whereas, Glenn Thomas "Tom" Searls was raised in Marmet, West
Virginia. As a youngster, he sold the
WV Hillbilly and
The Grit
door to door and delivered
The Charleston Gazette.
Whereas, Tom was a 1972 graduate of East Bank High School and
editor of the school newspaper,
The Pioneer Post. He then went on
to attend Marshall University, where he was student body president for two terms; and
Whereas, Tom was a very proud native of Marmet and often
referred to himself as a "Marmetian;" and
Whereas, A man with strong political beliefs, Tom often pointed
out that he was the product of a mixed marriage - his father was a
Republican and his mother was a Democrat; and
Whereas, Tom was a news hound who particularly like crime
stories and in 2000 he won the Al Nakkula Award for Police
Reporting, and in 2005 he was named Journalist of the Year by the
West Virginia Association for Justice; and
Whereas, Tom never let his personal beliefs get in the way of
being a fair reporter; and
Whereas, He loved history and politics and was an expert in
West Virginia State and small-town politics. He was highly
respected by his peers. Upon his death, he was called a "reporter's
reporter" by Senator Robert C. Byrd. His reputation was of one who
was tough, opinionated and passionate but always honest and fair;
and
Whereas, A Red Carpet regular, Tom had a strong taste for
alcohol and tobacco. On the exterior, he was a gruff curmudgeon
but on the inside he was a very caring person who was always there
for his family and friends; and
Whereas, Sadly, Glenn Thomas "Tom" Searls passed away on August
14, 2008; therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That House of Delegates hereby memorializes the life of Glenn
Thomas "Tom" Searls, reporter, friend, Marshall alum, and loyal
West Virginian; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the House of Delegates hereby extends
its sincere sympathy at the passing of Glenn Thomas "Tom" Searls;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates,
forward a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Glenn
Thomas "Tom" Searls.