GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

S	2 

SENATE RESOLUTION 1489
Rules and Operations of the Senate Committee Substitute Senate Resolution Adopted 6/21/00

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Sponsors:

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Referred to:  

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May 25, 2000

A SENATE RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF JAMES MCCLURE CLARKE, FORMER MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CONGRESS.
Whereas, James McClure "Jamie"Clarke was born on June 12, 1917, in Manchester, Vermont, to Dumont Clarke Sr. and Annie McClure Clarke; and
Whereas, Jamie Clarke moved to North Carolina in 1931; and
Whereas, Jamie Clarke graduated from The Asheville School for Boys in 1935 and from Princeton University in 1939; and
Whereas, Jamie Clarke served as an officer in the United States Naval Reserves from 1942 to 1945, seeing action in the Pacific Theater; and
Whereas, Jamie Clarke married Elspeth McClure in 1945; and
Whereas, Jamie Clarke was the owner of Hickory Nut Gap Farm, in Fairview, North Carolina, where he was  a successful dairy farmer and orchard grower; and
Whereas, Jamie Clarke served as Chair of the Buncombe County Board of Education from 1969 to 1976; and
Whereas, Jamie Clarke served with honor and distinction as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1977 to 1980 and as a member of the North Carolina Senate from 1981 to 1982; and
Whereas, Jamie Clarke was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1982 and reelected in 1986 and 1988; and
Whereas, as a member of Congress, Jamie Clarke successfully introduced legislation that set aside 68,000 acres of national forestland as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System and protected Transylvania County's Horsepasture River Gorge and Jackson County's Panthertown Valley; and
Whereas, Jamie Clarke served as Secretary and President of the Farmers Federation Cooperative from 1946 to 1959; as Associate Editor of the Asheville Citizens-Times from 1960 to 1968; as Assistant to the President of Warren Wilson College from 1969 to 1981; and as Secretary and Trustee of the James G.K. McClure Educational and Development Fund; and
Whereas, throughout his life, Jamie Clarke was active in many organizations, serving as a trustee or board member of Warren Wilson College, Coalition for the Blue Ridge Parkway, the North Carolina Environmental Defense Fund, Western North Carolina Community Foundation, Council on Aging, North Carolina Symphony, Thoms Rehabilitation Hospital, Southeastern Council of Foundations, and Eckerd Wilderness Educational System; and
Whereas, Jamie Clarke also served as a member and former President of the Asheville Civitan Club, former director of the Fairview Volunteer Fire Department, trustee and vice-chair of the North Carolina School of the Arts, trustee of Memorial Mission Hospital, trustee of the Semans Art Fund, and a former member and elder of the Warren Wilson College Presbyterian Church; and
Whereas, Jamie Clarke was a loyal member of the Fairview Christian Fellowship Presbyterian Church; and
Whereas, Jamie Clarke died on April 13, 1999; and
Whereas, Jamie Clarke is survived by his wife, Elspeth McClure Clarke; two daughters, Susie Clarke Hamilton and Annie Clarke Ager; four sons, James G.K. McClure Clarke, Dumont Clarke IV, William Clarke, and Douglas Dixon Clarke; a number of grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several other close relatives; and
Whereas, it is the desire of the Senate to acknowledge Jamie Clarke's achievements and pay tribute to his life and service; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
Section 1.  The Senate expresses its deep appreciation for the life and accomplishments of James McClure Clarke and for the great service he rendered to the nation and the State of North Carolina.
Section 2.  The Senate extends its sincere sympathy to the family and friends of James McClure Clarke.
Section 3.  The Principal Clerk shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of James McClure Clarke.
Section 4.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.