2015 -- H 5877

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LC002125

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING DUNCAN C. SPEEL ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE

WOONSOCKET HOUSING AUTHORITY AFTER MORE THAN THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS

OF EXEMPLARY AND DEVOTED SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF WOONSOCKET

     Introduced By: Representatives Phillips, Morin, and Casey

     Date Introduced: March 12, 2015

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Duncan C. Speel graduated from the Wentworth Institute with an

Associate's degree in Applied Science, and the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of

Science degree in Public Administration. Mr. Speel served our nation with honor and integrity in

the military during the Vietnam era; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Speel began his distinguished public service career more than thirty-

eight years ago, on September 20, 1976, when he was hired by the Woonsocket Housing

Authority. From his first day on the job, his colleagues and superiors noticed his attention to

detail, his tireless work ethic and his innovative approach to problem solving. As a result, he

began to rise in the ranks, culminating with his promotion to the position of Deputy Director; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Speel participated in numerous training programs throughout his career

including, those offered by the Institute for Real Estate Management, the National Association of

Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), The National Center for Housing Management

(NCHM) and with Nan McKay & Associates. All of this training allowed Mr. Speel to gather an

immense amount of knowledge regarding Real Estate and Housing issues, and enabled him to

establish a highly regarded preventative maintenance program for all of the Woonsocket Housing

Authority's property and equipment. The establishment of this program has kept the Woonsocket

Housing Authority's properties in better shape than most other public housing authorities across

the nation; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Speel has served as the Woonsocket Housing Authority's Acting

Executive Director several times over his exemplary career and in this capacity, he was an

instrumental component in the establishment and development of the Woonsocket Housing

Authority's St. Germain Assisted Living facility; and

     WHEREAS, Duncan Speel is an active parishioner at St. James Church in Woonsocket.

He and his wife Jeanne live in Blackstone, Massachusetts, and they enjoy spending time with

their two grown children and four grandchildren; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby congratulates Mr. Duncan C. Speel on his retirement from the

Woonsocket Housing Authority after more than thirty-eight years of distinguished and dedicated

service to the citizens of Woonsocket; and be it further

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

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Duncan C. Speel.

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LC002125

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