HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 46
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Thompson, on behalf of all members of the
House)
"Commemorating the life of the Honorable William D. "Bill"
Proudfoot, civic leader, farmer, beloved husband and father,
and member of the West Virginia House of Delegates."
Whereas, Bill Proudfoot was born November 30, 1940, in
Buckhannon, West Virginia and was the son of the late William D.
and Helen Alkire Proudfoot; and
Whereas, A self-made man, Bill was raised in humble
surroundings on the Proudfoot family farm near Elkins, on which he
still resided with his family and maintained as a working farm at
the time of his passing; and
Whereas, He received his high school diploma from Elkins High
School, his undergraduate degree from Fairmont State College, his
master's degree from Marshall University and did doctoral work at
West Virginia University; and
Whereas, Bill Proudfoot was married to his beloved wife, Lynn
Currence Proudfoot, attendance director for Randolph County
Schools; and had two sons, William Alexander Proudfoot, a sophomore
at West Virginia University, and Benjamin Currence Proudfoot, a junior at Elkins High School; and a daughter, Elizabeth Dorsey
Proudfoot, a sophomore at Elkins High School; and
Whereas, Bill served four years in the United States Army, was
a classroom teacher and administrator, and retired as the Director
of the Fred Eberlie Technical Center in Buckhannon; and
Whereas, A 32nd degree Mason and a Grand Master of the Knights
Templar, he also was past president of the Tygart Valley Shrine
Club, a member of the Davis Memorial Presbyterian Church in Elkins,
the National Rifle Association, a past president of the Randolph
County Farm Bureau, Elkins Kiwanis Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars
and the American Legion, West Virginia Cattlemen's Association,
BPOE, Retired Teachers Association, Tygart Valley Shrine Club, West
Virginia Farm Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce; and
Whereas, Bill was a devoted family man who always found time
for his wife and children, supporting his children's 4-H and
school activities and often bringing his family along to
legislative functions so they could share his legislative
experiences; and
Whereas, Bill Proudfoot represented the 37
th District,
comprising Randolph and Pocahontas counties, with distinction as a
member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1990 until his
passing and held numerous legislative positions during his tenure,
including: Vice Chairman of the Committee on Education for the 72nd
Legislature, Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources for the 73rd Legislature, and Chairman of the Committee on Political
Subdivision for the 74th, 75th, 76th and 77th Legislatures; and
during the 2008 session, Bill served as the Vice Chairman of the
House Judiciary Committee and was a member of Committee on
Political Subdivisions and the Rules Committee; and
Whereas, We will remember Bill as a colleague who brought a
deep reservoir of knowledge and experience to his legislative work
that traversed such a wide array of issues - whether it was natural
resources, agriculture, education, history, government, all things
industrial or mechanical, or virtually anything else we delved
into. Bill had a wisdom and depth about him that was attained over
the course of living a rich life filled with many and varied
experiences; and
Whereas, For all of Bill's many legislative contributions, he
will be most remembered by this House for simply being the
wonderful human being that he was - a kind and decent person who
was universally liked by his colleagues and who was known for his
genuine warmth and good cheer; and
Whereas, William D. "Bill" Proudfoot passed away on December
23, 2008, leaving behind a legacy of loving dedication and
commitment to his family, community and state; therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That the members of The House of Delegates hereby express
their profound sadness at the passing of one of their own, the Honorable William D. "Bill" Proudfoot, civic leader, farmer,
beloved husband and father, and colleague; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the House of Delegates hereby
commemorates the life of William D. "Bill" Proudfoot, a kind and
decent person whose unique abilities touched the lives of many West
Virginians; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates
prepare certified copies of this resolution for the family of
William D. "Bill" Proudfoot, including his beloved wife, Lynn
Currence Proudfoot, his two sons, William Alexander Proudfoot and
Benjamin Currence Proudfoot, and his daughter, Elizabeth Dorsey
Proudfoot.