SENATE RESOLUTION 66

(By Senators Walters, Gaunch, Palumbo, Takubo, Ashley, Beach, Blair, Boley, Boso, Carmichael, Cole (Mr. President), Cline, Facemire, Ferns, Hall, Karnes, Kessler, Kirkendoll, Laird, Leonhardt, Maynard, Miller, Mullins, Plymale, Prezioso, Romano, Snyder, Stollings, Sypolt, Trump, Unger, Williams, Woelfel and Yost )

[Introduced March 12, 2016]

Memorializing the life of the Honorable Darrell E. Holmes, former member of the West Virginia Senate, former Clerk of the Senate, former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates and dedicated public servant.

Whereas, The Honorable Darrell E. Holmes was born on October 19, 1934, in Sissonville, West Virginia, son of the late Russell and Macel Holmes; and

Whereas, The Honorable Darrell E. Holmes attended schools in Kanawha County and graduated from Sissonville High School in 1953. He later joined the United States Air Force and served in Okinawa, Japan, where served as an MP and would return stateside to attend Morris Harvey College and West Virginia State College; and

Whereas, The Honorable Darrell E. Holmes became a millwright and worked at the Institute plant of Union Carbide for thirty years until his retirement in 1989; and

Whereas, The Honorable Darrell E. Holmes began his public service when he was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates, serving for four consecutive terms from 1974 to 1982; and

Whereas, The Honorable Darrell E. Holmes was elected to two terms in the West Virginia Senate in 1982 and 1986; and

Whereas, The Honorable Darrell E. Holmes served as Chairman of the Committee on Labor for the 66th, 67th, 68th, and 69th Legislatures. He served as a member of the Committees on Energy, Industry and Mining, Agriculture, Finance, Interstate Cooperation and Natural Resources; and

Whereas, The Honorable Darrell E. Holmes was appointed as the 19th Clerk of the Senate on July 1, 1989, and served in that position until his retirement in January 2013; and

Whereas, The Honorable Darrell E. Holmes was married to his beloved wife, Nell Jean, with whom he shared the joy of having three sons: David (Kim), Gregory (Debbie) and Eric (Heather); and seven grandchildren: Lindsay, Andrew, Tara, Adam, Austin, Brianna and Easton; and

Whereas, Sadly, The Honorable Darrell E. Holmes passed away on January 22, 2016, leaving behind a host of family and friends, all of whom will miss his larger than life sense of humor and his ornery smile; and

Whereas, It is fitting that the Senate pay tribute to the life and legacy of the Honorable Darrell E. Holmes in the building in which he so graciously served the state of West Virginia for nearly forty years; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby memorializes the life of the Honorable Darrell E. Holmes, former member of the West Virginia Senate, former Clerk of the Senate, former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates and dedicated public servant; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate extends its most sincere and heart-felt sympathies to the family of the Honorable Darrell E. Holmes; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the family of the Honorable Darrell E. Holmes.