SENATE RESOLUTION 38

(By Senators Trump, Weld, Prezioso, Beach, Cline, Lindsay, Jeffries, Unger, Stollings, and Ihlenfeld)

[Introduced February 12, 2020]

Recognizing the contributions of AARP West Virginia State President Rich Stonestreet to the betterment of our state and its people.

Whereas, Mr. Rich Stonestreet was born and raised in the Wheeling area; the son of a third-generation steelworker and Italian immigrants; and

Whereas, Mr. Rich Stonestreet was educated in Ohio County schools, graduating from the former Triadelphia High School, before earning post-secondary degrees from West Liberty State College and the University of Tennessee; and

Whereas, Upon completing a 35-year career working in education and labor representation in the states of Maryland and West Virginia, Mr. Rich Stonestreet transitioned into retirement in 1998, and became actively engaged in his adopted home community of Charleston and the Kanawha Valley through volunteer service with several organizations; and

Whereas, Mr. Rich Stonestreet served as an AARP and AARP Foundation volunteer for more than a decade, providing extensive volunteer support to AARP state programs and initiatives; and

Whereas, In 2013, Mr. Rich Stonestreet was the state recipient of the AARP’s highest volunteer recognition, the Andrus Award for Community Service, which honors those individuals who are sharing their experience, talent, and skills to enrich the lives of their community members; and

Whereas, In 2014, Mr. Rich Stonestreet was selected to serve his initial two-year appointment as AARP West Virginia’s State President, representing nearly 300,000 Mountain State members, and was reappointed to serve two additional two-year terms as state president; and

Whereas, Mr. Rich Stonestreet completed six years of dedicated service as the organization’s lead state volunteer on December 31, 2019; and

Whereas, In this state volunteer leadership role, Mr. Rich Stonestreet maintained a very visible and active presence at the West Virginia State Capitol, working closely with lawmakers, legislative staff, and leaders to articulate the positions and views of AARP in the Mountain State; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby recognizes the contributions of AARP West Virginia State President Rich Stonestreet to the betterment of our state and its people; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude to AARP West Virginia for its diligent advocacy and education efforts that raise awareness around the important issues impacting 50+ West Virginians and their families; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to Mr. Stonestreet and AARP West Virginia.