A HOUSE RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of ike franklin andrews, former member of congress and the general assembly.
Whereas, Ike Franklin Andrews was born in Chatham County, North Carolina, on September 2, 1925, to Archie Andrews and Ina Dunlap Andrews; and
Whereas, Ike Franklin Andrews grew up in the small community known as Bonlee, where his father ran the hardware store and served as postmaster and his mother was a school teacher; and
Whereas, Ike Franklin Andrews attended Bonlee High School, Fork Union Military Academy in Fork Union, Virginia, from 1941 to 1942, and Mars Hill College from 1942 to 1943; and
Whereas, Ike Franklin Andrews enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 18 and served in the European Theater during World War II as a Field Artillery Forward Observer from 1943 to 1945, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant; and
Whereas, Ike Franklin Andrews was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge and, upon hearing that the war had ended, left his hospital bed and made his way to London, where he stood in front of No. 10 Downing Street to witness Prime Minister Winston Churchill announcing Germany's surrender; and
Whereas, Ike Franklin Andrews was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart; and
Whereas, Ike Franklin Andrews married JoAnne Johnson of Siler City on September 13, 1947, and to their union were born two daughters, Alice Cecelia and Nina Patricia; and
Whereas, after serving in the army, Ike Franklin Andrews enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning a BS degree in 1950 and a law degree in 1952; and
Whereas, during his college years, Ike Franklin Andrews supported his family by selling eggs that he bought from Bonlee area farmers to customers in Chapel Hill and Carrboro; and
Whereas, Ike Franklin Andrews had a successful law practice that began in Pittsboro and later moved to Siler City; and
Whereas, Ike Franklin Andrews served his profession as a member of the North Carolina State Bar, North Carolina Bar Association, American Bar Association, District Board Association Executive Committee, North Carolina Bar Association Standing Committee on Legislation and Law Reform, and the North Carolina Judicial Council from 1959 to 1961; and
Whereas, Ike Franklin Andrews showed an outstanding devotion to public service, serving as the Solicitor for Chatham, Orange, and Alamance Counties from 1961 to 1962; and
Whereas, Ike Franklin Andrews served with honor and distinction in the General Assembly, serving one term in the State Senate from 1959 to 1960 and four terms in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1961 to 1963 and 1967 to 1972; and
Whereas, Ike Franklin Andrews served as vice‑chair of the Senate Committees on Agriculture and Education and as a member of the Senate Committees on Appropriations, Public Roads, Rules, Retirement and Employment Security, and University Trustees, and served as chair of the House Committees on Constitutional Amendments and Rules and Operations of the House, vice‑chair of the House Committees on Conservation and Development, State Government, and University Trustees, and as a member of the House Committees on Banks and Banking; Congressional Districts; Counties, Cites, and Towns; Higher Education; Insurance; Judiciary; Justices of the Peace; Mental Health; and Wildlife Resources; and
Whereas, Ike Franklin Andrews was Chair of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments during the 1969 Session of the General Assembly when the committee debated bills proposing a revision of and amendments to the State's constitution; a revised constitution and five amendments were adopted by a vote of the people during the general election held November 3, 1970; and
Whereas, while in the General Assembly, Ike Franklin Andrews was a staunch supporter of the interest of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill during the reorganization of higher education and played a significant role in crafting the legislation establishing The University of North Carolina; and
Whereas, in 1972, Ike Franklin Andrews was elected to the United States Congress and went on to serve six terms until 1985; and
Whereas, as a member of Congress, Ike Franklin Andrews served on the House Education and Labor Committee and was Chair of its Subcommittee on Human Resources and took a special interest in issues relating to aging and long‑term care; and was Chair of its Subcommittee on Human Resources.
Whereas, Ike Franklin Andrews found time to be active in his community, serving on the Board of Directors of the Siler City Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trustees and Executive Committee of the Chatham Hospital, Executive Committee of the Occoneechee Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and a member of the Chatham County Civil Defense; and
Whereas, Ike Franklin Andrews was a member of the First Baptist Church of Siler City, where he served as chair of the Board of Deacons; and
Whereas, Ike Franklin Andrews died on May 10, 2010, at the age of 84; and
Whereas, Ike Franklin Andrews is survived by his wife, JoAnne Andrews; a daughter, Alice Andrews Joyce; and two grandchildren, Kevin Joyce and Laura Joyce; and
Whereas, Ike Franklin Andrews will be remembered for his devotion to his family, his patriotism to his country, his commitment to public service, and his admiration and respect for his fellow man; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
SECTION 1.  The House of Representatives honors the memory of Ike Franklin Andrews and expresses the appreciation of this State and its citizens for the outstanding service he rendered his community, his State, and the nation.
SECTION 2.  The House of Representatives extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Ike Franklin Andrews for the loss of a beloved family member.
SECTION 3.  The Principal Clerk shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Ike Franklin Andrews.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.