HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2025-4663
HR 4663
By Representatives Jinkins, Engell, and Abell
WHEREAS, Mary Selecky grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, the middle child of seven. Later she attended the University of Pennsylvania, earning degrees in political science and history before moving to Colville, Washington, in 1974; and
WHEREAS, Mary immersed herself in rural community life and made her home on the mountainside, often driving for hours after meetings or work to get back home to stargaze and wake up to the mountains; and
WHEREAS, In 1978, Mary joined the Northeast Tri-County Health District, eventually becoming its administrator, working tirelessly to understand all facets of local healthcare in Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens Counties; and
WHEREAS, Under her leadership, the district operated direct services and population health programs such as disease prevention, environmental health, immunization services, and the Women Infants and Children program; and
WHEREAS, She was known around the community as a fierce, fearless advocate for public health, often distributing condoms or a memorable public health anecdote at bars, community events, and meetings; and
WHEREAS, In the late 1980's Mary was a central figure advocating for the creation of the Washington State Department of Health. She traveled across the state and became well known for her advocacy resulting in Governor Booth Gardner creating the Department of Health in 1989; and
WHEREAS, In 1998, under Governor Locke, Mary was appointed Secretary of Health, a position she was reappointed to in 2005 under Governor Gregoire and again in 2013 by Governor Inslee; and
WHEREAS, Her nearly 15 years as Washington's Secretary of Health made her one of the longest-serving state health leaders in the country; and
WHEREAS, During her tenure, the Department of Health bolstered its capacity to navigate large-scale public health threats, including flooding, other extreme weather events, bioterrorism, and monitoring radiation caused by the Fukushima disaster; and