GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

S	1 

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 1082

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Sponsors: Senators Blust; Ballance, Ballantine, Basnight, Carpenter, Carrington, Cochrane, Conder, Dalton, East, Forrester, Foxx, Garwood, Gulley, Hartsell, Horton, Jenkins, Jordan, Kincaid, Kinnaird, Ledbetter, Lee, Lucas, Martin of Pitt, Martin of Guilford, McDaniel, Miller, Odom, Page, Phillips, Rand, Reeves, Rucho, Shaw of Cumberland, Shaw of Guilford, Soles, Warren, Webster, Weinstein, Wellons, and Winner.

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Referred to:  Rules and Operations of the Senate.

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June 5, 1997

A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF THOMAS B. SAWYER, SR., FORMER MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Whereas, Thomas B. Sawyer, Sr. was born in Tapoco in Graham County, North Carolina, on April 9, 1918, to Pleas M. Sawyer and Edna Garland Sawyer; and
Whereas, Thomas B. Sawyer, Sr. graduated from Duke University in 1938 and received a law degree from Emory University in 1947; and
Whereas, Thomas B. Sawyer, Sr.'s long and distinguished career included practicing law, owning and serving as president of a realty company, teaching real estate, working for the North Carolina Department of Insurance, and serving as president of WSSB radio station in Durham; and
Whereas, Thomas B. Sawyer, Sr. rendered distinguished service to North Carolina as a member of the General Assembly; and
Whereas, Thomas B. Sawyer, Sr. represented Durham County in the Senate from 1950 to 1952, represented Guilford County in the House of Representatives from 1972 to 1978, and represented Guilford County in the Senate from 1995 to 1996; and
Whereas, Thomas B. Sawyer, Sr. sought to further serve the people of North Carolina by running for Governor in 1956, and the United States Senate in 1978; and
Whereas, Thomas B. Sawyer, Sr. proudly served his country during World War II as a member of the 36th Field Artillery Unit of the United States Army and for his distinguished service during this war, received several decorations; and
Whereas, after his tour of active duty, Thomas B. Sawyer, Sr. continued to serve the army in numerous capacities, including his service as an instructor at the Command and General Staff School at the Pentagon and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and
Whereas, Thomas B. Sawyer, Sr. was promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel on March 26, 1960, while a member of the United States Army Reserves; and
Whereas, Thomas B. Sawyer, Sr. was a former Department Commander with the Disabled American Veterans, a former State Commander with Amvets, a member of the Reserve Officers' Association, and a member of the American Legion, Post 368; and
Whereas, Thomas B. Sawyer, Sr. was a deeply religious man, attended Duke Divinity School for one year, and was an active member of the Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church of Greensboro; and
Whereas, Thomas B. Sawyer, Sr. died on March 19, 1996, and leaves to mourn him his wife, Dorothy Siler Sawyer; his daughters, Floy S. Blanton and Sharon S. Nelson; his sons, Pleas M. Sawyer, III, Joseph B. Sawyer, Thomas B. Sawyer, Jr., Wendell H. Sawyer, and Gregory W. Sawyer; 25 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren; and
Whereas, in the untimely death of Thomas B. Sawyer, Sr., his family, the General Assembly, Guilford County, and the State of North Carolina lost a good friend and colleague and an admired and respected man;
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
Section 1.  The General Assembly honors the life and memory of Thomas B. Sawyer, Sr. and expresses the deep gratitude and appreciation of this State and its citizens for his life and service to North Carolina.
Section 2.  The General Assembly extends its deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Thomas B. Sawyer, Sr.
Section 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Thomas B. Sawyer, Sr.
Section 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.