GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

H	1 

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 980

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Sponsors: Representatives Rhyne; Abernethy, Arnold, Balmer, Barbee, Bowie, Brawley, Brown, Brubaker, Buchanan, Craven, Creech, Cromer, Culp, Cunningham, Decker, Dickson, Diggs, Duncan, Esposito, L. Etheridge, Flaherty, Gardner, Grady, Grimmer, Hege, Holmes, Howard, Huffman, Isenhower, Justus, Kimsey, Lail, Ligon, Loflin, Pope, Privette, Rhodes, Robinson, Sizemore, Stam, Tallent, Walker, Weatherly, P. Wilson, G. Wilson, and Wood.

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Referred to:  Rules.

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March 31, 1989

A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF CHARLES RAPER JONAS, FORMER CONGRESSMAN AND "MISTER REPUBLICAN".
Whereas, Charles Raper Jonas was born on December 9, 1904; and
Whereas, Charles Raper Jonas was graduated from Lincolnton High School in 1921, where he was voted "Best All Around Member of the Senior Class"; and
Whereas, Charles Raper Jonas received an AB degree in 1925 and a Juris Doctorate with high honors in 1928 from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and
Whereas, during Charles Raper Jonas' undergraduate years at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he was a member of the track team; in 1926 he was captain and holder of the State record in the half mile run; and
Whereas, Charles Raper Jonas was President of the Dialectic Society in 1925, president of the Monogram Club in 1925, president of the student body in 1926, and permanent president of the Class of 1925, while at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and
Whereas, Charles Raper Jonas was editor-in-chief of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Law Review from 1927 to 1928 and a member of the Order of the Coif; and
Whereas, upon graduating from law school, Charles Raper Jonas entered into the practice of law with his father, Charles A. Jonas in 1928, in the firm of Jonas and Jonas; and
Whereas, Charles Raper Jonas was guided by the examples of his father, Charles A. Jonas, who had been a member of both the North Carolina House and Senate, the first Republican Congressman in the Twentieth Century, and a candidate for the United States Senate; and
Whereas, Charles Raper Jonas practiced law continuously as a member of Jonas and Jonas until September 1940, when he was called to active service as a member of the North Carolina National Guard; and
Whereas, Charles Raper Jonas' military career included his service in the United States Army from 1940 to 1946; as Lieutenant Colonel in the Cavalry in 1945 and as Brigadier General in the Judge Advocate General Corps of the North Carolina National Guard; and
Whereas, Charles Raper Jonas' professional career included membership in the North Carolina Bar Association, where he served as President in 1947; membership in the North Carolina Board of Law Examiners from 1948 to 1949; and an Assistant United States Attorney from 1931 to 1932; and
Whereas, Charles Raper Jonas was elected to Congress in 1952, the second Republican from North Carolina this century, his father being the first, and served with distinction until 1972; and
Whereas, Charles Raper Jonas was a member of the Congressional Appropriations Committee from 1954 until 1972, during which period the committee cut ninety-three billion dollars from budgets proposed by five presidents, including Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon; and
Whereas, in respect for Charles Raper Jonas' long and pioneering service to his Party and to the goal of making North Carolina a two-party State, he came to be known as "Mr. Republican";
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
Section 1.  The General Assembly of North Carolina wishes to honor the life and memory of Charles Raper Jonas and wishes to express its sympathy to his family for their loss.
Sec. 2.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Charles Raper Jonas.
Sec. 3.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.