2012 -- S 2994

=======

LC02570

=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

____________

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING JUNE 22, 2012, TO BE CAPTAIN RUSSELL P. KNIGHT DAY IN THE

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     

     

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Felag, and Paiva Weed

     Date Introduced: May 17, 2012

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

1-1

     WHEREAS, Russell Knight was born into a distinguished Rhode Island family and has

1-2

endeavored his whole life to bring further honor to the family’s name. He attended Toll Gate

1-3

High School, where he earned varsity letters for soccer and ice hockey, and went on to pursue

1-4

postsecondary studies at the University of Rhode Island, where he graduated with a Bachelor of

1-5

Science degree in Civil/Ocean Engineering. In his excitement to begin his Naval career, Russell

1-6

actually skipped his URI graduation to enter Aviation Officer Candidate School in May, 1982;

1-7

and

1-8

     WHEREAS, Captain Knight served with extreme dedication and outstanding

1-9

accomplishments for three decades as a highly-decorated aviator and leader in the United States

1-10

Navy, including hazardous combat missions, service as an experimental test pilot, command of a

1-11

Navy fighter squadron, and command of the Naval Air Station in Meridian, Mississippi; and

1-12

     WHEREAS, Captain Knight was elected and served for four years as President of the

1-13

11,000 member professional naval aviation Tailhook Association; and

1-14

     WHEREAS, As Chief of Staff of the Naval War College, Captain Knight provided

1-15

dynamic leadership to the world’s foremost military education institution during a period of

1-16

unprecedented growth and renewal; and

1-17

     WHEREAS, Captain Russell P. Knight is to be commended in the strongest possible

1-18

terms for his thirty years of honorable and dedicated service while upholding the ideals of the

1-19

citizens he was sworn to protect. His life of exemplary service as a son, husband, father, and

1-20

patriot reflect the highest traditions of the Naval Service, the State of Rhode Island, and the

2-1

United States of America; now, therefore be it

2-2

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

2-3

hereby proclaims June 22, 2012, as “Captain Russell P. Knight Day” in the State of Rhode Island.

2-4

We join his wife, Mary Lou, and their two children in recognizing the many ways that Captain

2-5

Knight’s work has made Rhode Island a better, safer place; and be it further

2-6

     RESOLVED, That this Senate encourages all the citizens in the State to reflect on

2-7

Captain Knight’s accomplishments; and be it further

2-8

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

2-9

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Captain Russell P. Knight.

     

=======

LC02570

=======

S2994