A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of james davis "jim" speed, former member of the general assembly.
Whereas, James Davis "Jim" Speed was born on January 30, 1915, in Franklin County to Henry Plummer Speed and Addie Jeffreys Speed; and
Whereas, Jim Speed was a graduate of Gold Sand High School and North Carolina State University; and
Whereas, Jim Speed married Martha Matthews on November 29, 1947, and they were the parents of three children, Claudia, Tom, and Mark; and
Whereas, Jim Speed was a lifelong resident of Franklin County and made a living as a tobacco warehouseman and farmer, producing tobacco and grain and raising cattle on a 600‑acre farm that has been in his family since the 1850s; and
Whereas, Jim Speed served with honor and distinction in the General Assembly as a member of the House of Representatives from 1961 to 1972 and as a member of the Senate from 1977 to 1996, representing the people of various counties, including Franklin, Warren, Vance, Nash, Wilson, and Johnston; and
Whereas, during his tenure in the House of Representatives, Jim Speed served as chair of the Committees on Agriculture and Local Government; and
Whereas, as a State Senator, Jim Speed served as chair of several Committees, including Agriculture, Marine Resources, and Wildlife, Natural Resources and Economic Development, and Transportation; and
Whereas, Jim Speed served with distinction as a member of the Board of Directors of several local and State organizations, including the Franklin County Farm Bureau, Franklin Memorial Hospital, North Carolina Veterinary Foundation, and North Carolina Farm Bureau; and
Whereas, Jim Speed also served on the Franklin County Leadership Committee, Franklin County Board of Health, North Carolina State Board of Agriculture, Agri‑Business Council, and North Carolina Forestry Association; and
Whereas, Jim Speed received numerous awards and honors, including the Outstanding Service Award by the North Carolina Association of Rescue Squads in 1977, the Achievement Award by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce in 1980, and was named the District Tree Farmer of the Year in 1974 and the Conservation Farmer of the Year in 1975; and
Whereas, Jim Speed was recognized by the North Carolina Soybean Producers Association and the North Carolina soybean industry for his outstanding contributions in 1989 and received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. in 1981 and the Outstanding Legislator's Award from the North Carolina Division of Aging in 1991; and
Whereas, Jim Speed was a Mason and a Shriner and a devoted member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Louisburg; and
Whereas, Jim Speed died on June 14, 2006, at the age of 91; and
Whereas, Jim Speed is survived by his wife, Martha Speed; sons, Tom Speed and Mark Speed; and one grandson, Davis; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly of North Carolina expresses its deep appreciation for the life and accomplishments of James Davis "Jim" Speed and for the service he rendered to his State and his community.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly of North Carolina expresses its deepest sympathy to the family of James Davis "Jim" Speed for the loss of their distinguished family member.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of James Davis "Jim" Speed.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.