SENATE RESOLUTION
8655
By Senators Wagoner, Braun, Conway, Goehner, Hansen, Hasegawa, Lovelett, Lovick, MacEwen, Muzzall, Orwall, Robinson, Schoesler, Shewmake, Stanford, C. Wilson, Wellman, Dozier, King, Pedersen, Warnick, Fortunato, Saldaña, Short, and Torres
WHEREAS, Ralph Munro, a lifelong public servant and former five-term Secretary of State for Washington, dedicated his career to improving the lives of Washingtonians through advocacy, policy, and compassion; and
WHEREAS, Ralph Munro began his journey in public service as a volunteer at the Fircrest Residential Habilitation Center in Pierce County, where his compassion and commitment to those with disabilities caught the attention of Governor Daniel Evans, leading to a position on the governor's staff as an advisor on volunteerism; and
WHEREAS, Ralph Munro became a pioneer in disability rights, helping pass groundbreaking legislation requiring Washington's public schools to serve students with physical and mental disabilities, a model that inspired similar federal legislation ensuring education for all; and
WHEREAS, His advocacy extended beyond education, with efforts to make Washington's communities more accessible, including the introduction of curb cuts at street corners to allow individuals in wheelchairs to cross safely, a change that preceded federal accessibility requirements by two decades; and
WHEREAS, Ralph Munro played an instrumental role in transforming Washington's fragmented social service agencies into the Department of Social and Health Services, creating a more effective and coordinated system to serve the state's most vulnerable populations; and
WHEREAS, His compassion extended to those beyond our borders, as he spearheaded efforts to welcome and resettle 30,000 Vietnamese refugees in Washington following the Vietnam War, demonstrating the state's commitment to providing refuge to those fleeing oppression and persecution; and
WHEREAS, Ralph Munro's advocacy for Washington's natural heritage included his pivotal role in ending orca whale hunts in Puget Sound, ensuring the survival of the region's iconic killer whale population through legal action that protected these magnificent creatures; and
WHEREAS, Ralph Munro served with distinction as Washington's Secretary of State for two decades, during which he upheld the highest standards of election integrity while using his office to champion environmental protection, disability rights, and the preservation of Washington's history; and
WHEREAS, Ralph Munro's passion for honoring Washington's heritage was evident in his leadership of the state's centennial celebration in 1989, when he traveled across the state to educate citizens about the history of state government and the Washington Constitution; and