Senate Resolution No. 58
(By Senators Caruth, Fanning, Wells, McCabe, Kessler, Palumbo,
Yost and Foster)
Memorializing the life of Glenn Thomas "Tom" Searls, reporter,
writer and dedicated West Virginian.
Whereas, Tom Searls was born in Marmet, Kanawha County, the
son of Glenn Cheetwood and Carol Canterberry Searls; and
Whereas, Tom Searls was a 1972 graduate of East Bank High
School and was the editor of the school newspaper; and
Whereas, Tom Searls was a graduate of Marshall University and
was twice elected president of the student body. He also worked as
a reporter and editor for the university's newspaper,
The
Parthenon. Throughout his life, he remained a loyal Thundering
Herd fan; and
Whereas, Tom Searls began his professional journalism career
with the
Welch Day News, Welch, West Virginia. He also worked for
the
Raleigh Register, Beckley, West Virginia, the
Johnson City
Press, Johnson City, Tennessee, the
Bluefield Daily Telegraph,
Bluefield, West Virginia, the
Dominion Post, Morgantown, West
Virginia, and United Press International (UPI) in West Virginia and
Ohio; and
Whereas, Tom Searls began working at the
Charleston Gazette in
1991 and was assigned to the state capitol as a correspondent. He was well suited for the job because of his love of politics and
history; and
Whereas, Tom Searls was well respected by his peers and was
the recipient of a number of journalistic awards. He was
especially proud of the winning the Al Nakkula Award for police
reporting from the University of Colorado School of Journalism and
Mass Communication in 2000; and
Whereas, Sadly, Tom Searls passed away on August 14, 2008;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate hereby memorializes the life of Glenn Thomas
"Tom" Searls, reporter, writer and dedicated West Virginian; and,
be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate hereby expresses its sincere
sadness at the passing of Tom Searls; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward
a copy of this resolution to the family of the late Tom Searls.