SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 48

(By Senators Miller, Wills, Laird, Helmick, Fanning, Unger, Jenkins, Tucker, Browning, Foster, Stollings, McCabe, Kessler (Acting President), Plymale, Minard, Williams and Yost)

Memorializing the life of the Honorable Ralph Dale Williams, former member of the West Virginia Senate and dedicated public servant.

    Whereas, Ralph Dale Williams was born February 16, 1928, in Trout, West Virginia, son of the late John Dorsey and Verna Susan Viers Williams; and

    Whereas, Ralph Dale Williams graduated from Rainelle High School in 1946, and from Marshall College in Huntington in 1950, with a bachelor of science degree in accounting; and

    Whereas, Ralph Dale Williams, following his dedicated military service during the Korean War as a corporal in the Army Finance Corps, returned to Greenbrier County, where he invested his life into the service of others; and

    Whereas, Ralph Dale Williams began as a loan officer at the East Rainelle Finance Company, then started his own accounting business in 1959, and also became a State Farm Insurance Agent with over 52 years of Good Neighbor Service; and

    Whereas, Ralph Dale Williams was elected to the West Virginia Senate in 1970, and represented the 11^th Senatorial District for 16 years, in which time he served as Chairman of the Finance Committee, Natural Resources Committee, Education Committee, Chairman of the Committee on Military, Chairman of Insurance & Corporations, Chairman of Banking & Insurance, and Chairman of Legislature Rule-Making Committee; and

    Whereas, Ralph Dale Williams was a faithful member of Sewell Valley Baptist Church and supporter of Rainelle Christian Academy; and

    Whereas, Ralph Dale Williams participated in a myriad of civic organizations including as a member of Rainelle Lions Club for 55 years and past district governor of the Lions Clubs International, representing District 29-N, member of Midland Trail Masonic Lodge 166 for 49 years; and

    Whereas, Ralph Dale Williams was Chairman of the board of directors of the Rainelle Medical Center, Chairman of the board of directors of First State Bank & Trust, member of the West Virginia Port Authority, Chairman of the Greenbrier Valley Airport Authority for 26 years, member of the West Virginia Osteopathic Medical Review Board, and received an honorary doctorate degree from the West Virginia Osteopathic School of Medicine, President of Western Greenbrier Development Corporation, President of Greenbrier Woods Corporation, President of Community Aide Inc., member of the Greenbrier Historical Society, lobbyist for West Virginia Architects & Engineers, founding Chairman of the West Virginia State Farm Agents PAC; and

    Whereas, Ralph Dale Williams was awarded the Leonard Jarrett and a Melvin Jones Fellow awards, was named the Western and Greenbrier Area Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year 1973, and Western Greenbrier Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year 1977; and

    Whereas, Ralph Dale Williams was an avid outdoorsman and loved spending quality time with his loving family, hunting and fishing at the family camp on Anthony Creek in the Monongahela National Forest; and

    Whereas, Ralph D. Williams was married to his beloved wife of 54 years, Evelyn, with whom he shared the joy of having three sons, Alan Dale Schoolcraft-Williams, Mark Kevin Williams and wife, Michelle, and Barry Lee Williams and wife, Robin; and daughter, Myra Dawn and husband, Danny Vestal, all of Rainelle; five grandchildren, Matthew and his wife, Samantha, Krista, Jordan, Joyce Ann “J.J.” Schoolcraft-Williams II and Garrett Vestal; and one great-granddaughter, Kayleigh; and

    Whereas, Sadly, the Honorable Ralph Dale Williams passed away on February 7, 2011, bringing an end to a long and productive life of dedication and commitment to his community and state; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Senate:

    That this Senate hereby memorializes the life of the Honorable Ralph Dale Williams, former member of the West Virginia Senate and dedicated public servant; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Senate extends its sincere sympathy at the passing of the Honorable Ralph Dale Williams; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the family of the Honorable Ralph Dale Williams.