2015 -- S 0950

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LC002736

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF JOHN H. ROLLINS

     Introduced By: Senators Metts, Miller, Ruggerio, P Fogarty, and Walaska

     Date Introduced: May 27, 2015

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, It is with much sadness that this Senate has learned of the passing of John

H. Rollins, the husband of Julia M. Rollins, and father of five daughters, Cheryl Watkins and her

husband, Michael, Lisa Ann Rollins, Johnna Marie Rollins, Tracey Rollins Spann and her

husband, Christopher, and Dina Lee Rollins. He was also the proud grandfather of eight

grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and

     WHEREAS, Born in Providence, Mr. Rollins was a son of the late Rachel and James

Rollins, Sr., and the brother of Mary McClain, Ella Robinson, Helen Gomes, Clarence Rollins,

and the late James Rollins, Jr., Robert Rollins, Joseph Rollins, Melvina Washington, Susan

Briggs, Grace Pierce, Ester Rollins and Pauline Scott; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Rollins graduated from La Salle Academy where he had been a star

football player, and had attended the University of Rhode Island, which he left before graduating

in order to try out with the Green Bay Packers in 1961. In 1964, he tried out for the New York

Giants and later played for the Providence Steam Rollers and was a freshman football coach for

Brown University; and

     WHEREAS, A truly gifted athlete, Mr. Rollins was inducted into the Rhode Island

Interscholastic Hall of Fame, University of Rhode Island Hall of Fame, La Salle Academy Hall of

Fame and the Providence Gridiron Hall of Fame; and

     WHEREAS, Before his retirement, Mr. Rollins had been employed as an MBE/WBE

Coordinator for the City of Providence and had owned his own construction company. Always

involved with helping the community, John took his commitment to a higher level, in a successful

run for City Council. In addition, he was a lead force behind the South Side recreation center

project, and was a member of the Roger Williams Day Care Board, the ProCap Board, as well as

numerous other civic organizations; and

     WHEREAS, John Rollins enriched the lives of all who knew him and he will forever be

remembered and deeply missed by his family and friends; now, therefore be it

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

hereby expresses its deepest sympathies to the entire Rollins Family on the passing of John H.

Rollins; and be it further

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

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Mrs. Julia M. Rollins and Family.

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