SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 52

(By Senators Barnes, Kessler (Mr. President), Beach, Blair, Boley, Cann, Carmichael, Chafin, Cole, Cookman, Edgell, Facemire, Fitzsimmons, Green, D. Hall, M. Hall, Jenkins, Kirkendoll, Laird, McCabe, Miller, Nohe, Palumbo, Plymale, Prezioso, Snyder, Stollings, Sypolt, Tucker, Unger, Walters, Wells, Williams and Yost)

Memorializing the life of the Honorable Ursula Jae Spears, former member of the West Virginia Senate, former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates and dedicated public servant.

    Whereas, The Honorable Ursula Jae Spears was born in Latonia, Kentucky, the daughter of the late James and Sylvia Fox Marshall; and

    Whereas, The Honorable Ursula Jae Spears began her career in public service in 1974, when she was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates, one of only eight women in the 100-member chamber; and

    Whereas, The Honorable Ursula Jae Spears served three terms in the West Virginia House of Delegates before being elected to the West Virginia Senate in 1980, one of only two women at that time in the 34-member chamber; and

    Whereas, Only two years into her first term in the Senate, the Honorable Ursula Jae Spears was appointed as Senate Majority Whip, making her the first woman to hold a leadership position in either house of the West Virginia Legislature; and

    Whereas, From 1984 to 1986, the Honorable Ursula Jae Spears was appointed as Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, making her the first and only woman thus far to head the committee; and

    Whereas, During her eighteen years of dedicated pubic service in the West Virginia Legislature, the Honorable Ursula Jae Spears was active in the health care field, where she sponsored and saw enacted into law the first home health care bill, and the first bills that provided help for hemophiliacs and autistic children; and

    Whereas, The Honorable Ursula Jae Spears was one of three Senators who wrote the bill authorizing the Rural Health Initiative; and

    Whereas, The Honorable Ursula Jae Spears was an ardent advocate for veterans and the National Guard. She authored a bill for employing and training veterans, the first such legislation in the nation, which earned her a national award from the United States Department of Labor and Veterans Affairs; and

    Whereas, The Honorable Ursula Jae Spears’ commitment to public service reached far beyond her time in the West Virginia Legislature, as she was active in promoting literacy for all West Virginians, advocating for protection of the family farm, and serving on numerous boards, commissions and councils to help promote and protect woman and children; and

    Whereas, Sadly, on March 16, 2013, the Honorable Ursula Jae Spears passed away, bringing an end to a pioneering and productive life in public service and leaving behind a host of family and friends, as well as colleagues across the State of West Virginia, all of whom will sorely miss her; and

    Whereas, The Honorable Ursula Jae Spears’ contributions to the State of West Virginia will be felt by West Virginians for many generations to come, making her memory eternal throughout the state; therefore, be itResolved by the Senate:

    That the Senate hereby memorializes the life of the Honorable Ursula Jae Spears, former member of the West Virginia Senate, former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates and dedicated public servant; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Senate expresses its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the Honorable Ursula Jae Spears on her passing; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the family of the Honorable Ursula Jae Spears.