A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING THE life and memory of Paul LUEBKE, former member of the general Assembly.

Whereas, Paul Luebke was born on January 18, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois, to Paul T. and Eunice Elbert Luebke; and
Whereas, Paul Luebke graduated from Valparaiso University in 1966 and received his PhD in Sociology from Columbia University in 1975; and
Whereas, Paul Luebke began his distinguished college teaching career at Tougaloo College in Mississippi where he taught for four years; and
Whereas, Paul Luebke moved to North Carolina in 1975 to teach Sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and
Whereas, Paul Luebke became an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he taught for 40 years; and
Whereas, Paul Luebke was the author of Tarheel Politics: Myths and Realities (1990) and Tarheel Politics 2000 (1998), the authoritative books on politics and political history in North Carolina; and
Whereas, Paul Luebke was a founder and leader of the Durham People's Alliance, an enduring citizens' group that advocates for progressive political change in North Carolina; and
Whereas, Paul Luebke served as a member of the Raleigh‑Durham International Airport Authority; Board of Editors of Perspectives on the American South: An Annual Review of Society, Politics, and Culture; and the Board of Editors of Research in Political Sociology; and
Whereas, Paul Luebke was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives in 1990 and continued to represent Durham County in the General Assembly for 25 years; and
Whereas, Paul Luebke served as chair of the Finance Committee and actively participated as a member of various other committees, including Education, Environment, Local Government, Public Utilities, Rules, and Transportation; and
Whereas, Paul Luebke distinguished himself as an advocate of tax fairness and led the effort to repeal the State sales tax on food; and
Whereas, throughout his legislative tenure, Paul Luebke was a champion and tireless advocate for the causes he believed in, including public education, effective environmental regulation, repeal of the death penalty, alternatives to incarceration, reproductive rights, and public transit; and
Whereas, Paul Luebke died on October 29, 2016, at the age of 70; and
Whereas, Paul Luebke is survived by his son, Theodore Luebke; his granddaughter, Adele Rose Derello‑Luebke; his brother, Tim Wong; and his partner, Sherrie Cannoy; Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of Paul Luebke and expresses the gratitude of this State and its citizens for the service he rendered.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly extends its deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Paul Luebke for the loss of a beloved family member and dear friend.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Paul Luebke.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 8th day of June, 2017.

	s/	 Daniel J. Forest
	 President of the Senate

	s/	 Tim Moore
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives