Introduced Version
House Resolution 4 History
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House Resolution 4
[By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss and Delegate Caputo and all Members of the House]
"Enrolling a Memorial to the Honorable A. James Manchin,
Former Member of the House of Delegates, Esteemed Public
Servant and Cherished Friend from the County of Marion."
WHEREAS, The members of the House of Delegates profoundly
deplore the death on November 3, 2003, of the Honorable A. James
Manchin, and desire to pay a tribute to the memory of this extraordinary
individual, former member, public servant and friend.
A. James Manchin was born in humble quarters in Farmington,
Marion County, on April 7, 1927, the son of the late Kathleen "Mama Kay"
and Joseph "Papa Joe" Manchin. He received his preparatory education in
the public schools of Marion County, and he attended West Virginia
University, Fairmont State College and Villanova, where he earned
Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in political science, sociology and
education.
He was married to Stella Machel and they had had three children:
Patricia Lee, Mark Anthony and Rosanna, all of whom survive.
He entered the world of politics at an early age, and was elected to the
House of Delegates in 1948, when he was but twenty-one years old. He ran
for reelection to the House in 1950, but his defeat in that election did not
curtail his desire to be in public service. He spent most of the 1950's as a
wrestling coach and teacher at Rupert, Hundred and Webster Springs High
Schools and at Jackson Junior High School in Vienna.
In 1961, A. James Manchin received an appointment by President
John F. Kennedy to serve as State Director of the Farmers Home
Administration and he served at the federal level as Special Assistant to the
National Administrator of the Farmers Home Administration, holding those
positions until 1972.
A flamboyant character of the first magnitude, A. James held close
friendship with former Governor Arch A. Moore, who, in 1973, appointed
him to direct the Environmental Action Program, a successful effort to rid
the State of junked cars and appliances. Thus began his romance with
junked cars that earned him national recognition and acclaim, simply by the
effort and energy he put into it, and the total number of junked cars
removed from the landscape of West Virginia during his tenure was over
100,000.
In 1976, A. James Manchin embarked upon yet another political
adventure by running for and being elected as the Secretary of State of
West Virginia. Although publicly viewed as largely a ceremonial office,
he took the Great Seal of the State, with which he was entrusted by the
Constitution, and made it into a symbol of the people and for the people, by
bestowing countless thousands of medallions which he commissioned
bearing the Great Seal upon those whom he wanted to honor. He remained
as Secretary of State for nearly ten years, and in 1984 he sought and won
election as Treasurer. In that office, he created the Teddi Program, which
established 28,000 new jobs in the State. The darkest hours of his political
career took root during his tenure as Treasurer, and in 1989 he resigned
from public office.
Although no longer in great public view, A. James continued to work
with and for those whom he loved, particularly the veterans and senior
citizens. He held memberships in L. O. O. M., Veterans of Foreign Wars,
the American Legion, Keep America Beautiful, Go-Cats, Inc., was a 4th
Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus and served in the Silver Haired Legislature for four years. He was a Roman Catholic and
particularly loved his home parish Church of St. Peter the Apostle in
Farmington, from which he was buried, and where, on occasion he used his
oratorical gift as a Lector at Mass.
A. James Manchin reentered public life and service as a member of
the House of Delegates, having been elected in 1998 and serving as a
member until his death. He served as Chairman of the Committee on
Enrolled Bills, a largely ceremonial and ministerial position, and gave the
signing of bills a certain character it never possessed nor ever again will
possess. As a member of the House, he was adamant about the recitation
of the Pledge of Allegiance during the opening of the daily session , and he
insisted that the phrase "one nation under God" be said in one breath and
always without hesitation.
A. James Manchin found a particular attachment to the staff of the
Clerk of the House, and he made the Clerk's Office his "unofficial" office
while in this part of the building. Whether calling a bureaucrat on behalf
of some misguided soul in his district, or trying to boost the morale of the
young troops serving our country, A. James, when telephoning some public
official and being asked to identify himself, often would simply say "I am
but a voice crying out in the wilderness", which would totally befuddle the
person receiving the call. His requests were generally heeded.
Ceremony was a great part of his life, and no event in which he
participated escaped his particular twist, even to the point of seeking
recognition on the floor of the House and replying to the Speaker's inquiry
that he "sought permission to approach the high throne of authority." His
manner could disperse tenseness and turn the texture of the moment into
one of gentle laughter, but his seriousness was evident when he spoke of
things dear to him, and persons dear to him often received a moniker only
he could effectively employ, such as "Little Buddy", "HashiBaba" or
"Mamalini."
A. James Manchin was a rare political figure who had the true unique
ability to transcend politics in order to promote what he believed was in the
best interests of the citizens of this State, and leaves to all of us a legacy of
statesmanhood and greatness of character that we should all seek to
emulate, especially during those inevitable recurring conflicts which can
sometimes inflame our passions, tempting us to obfuscate rather than to
seek solutions to the problems we face; therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That, while we formally mark the passing of a great leader of our
State, a colleague, mentor and gentle friend, we also collectively celebrate
in having been provided the example by this colorful, able and
compassionate statesman, public servant and friend; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the members of the House of Delegates of this
Seventy-Sixth Legislature of the State of West Virginia, in its Regular
Session, 2004, hereby solemnly enroll this memorial to an extraordinary
individual and public servant, A. James Manchin, hereby express the
esteem in which he was held, and decry his passing; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House prepare certified
copies of this resolution for Mrs. Stella Manchin, his wife, and for Patricia
Lee, Mark Anthony and Rosanna, his children.
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