SENATE RESOLUTION
8656
By Senators Pedersen, Robinson, Riccelli, Alvarado, Chapman, Bateman, Hasegawa, Stanford, Hansen, Valdez, Shewmake, Conway, Boehnke, Liias, Slatter, Orwall, Ramos, Warnick, Frame, Holy, Gildon, McCune, Fortunato, King, MacEwen, Harris, Short, Goehner, Christian, Braun, and Lovick
WHEREAS, Frank Chopp was born in East Bremerton, the grandson of Croatian immigrants who came to the State of Washington in search of a better life; and
WHEREAS, Frank's father went to work in the Roslyn coal mines at age 12, was an IBEW union electrician at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and his mother was a school cafeteria worker; and
WHEREAS, His politically active parents encouraged their children into public service and taught them to show respect to all people, leading Frank to protest against a local fraternal organization that excluded people of color when he was a student at East Bremerton High School; and
WHEREAS, During and after graduating from the University of Washington, Frank honed his passion for improving the lives of people by serving as a manager of the "little city hall" in Fremont, director of the Pike Market Senior Center, and as a community organizer on housing, transportation, and other issues; and
WHEREAS, Frank became the executive director of the Fremont Public Association (now Solid Ground) and developed food, shelter, housing, home care, legal services, paratransit, arts, and employment programs, and collaborated with other community leaders to secure Magnuson Park for low-income housing and create the Low Income Housing Institute, Survival Services Coalition, Seattle Tenants Union, and many more community programs; and
WHEREAS, In 1994, Frank's dedication to public service resulted in his running for and being elected as State Representative from the 43rd Legislative District in Seattle; and
WHEREAS, Frank quickly rose to leadership, serving as House Minority Leader from 1997-1998, and as Co-Speaker from 1999-2001 when the House was split evenly between Democrats and Republicans; and
WHEREAS, Frank served as Speaker of the House for 20 years and was the longest-serving Speaker in the history of the State of Washington; and
WHEREAS, Frank created, initiated, or presided over an astounding list of accomplishments that changed the lives of families, encouraged by the love and support of his wife Nancy, and children Narayan and Ellie; and