2015 -- S 0962

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LC002765

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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

RECOGNIZING THE HONORABLE JOHN P. HAWKINS ON THE OCCASION OF HIS

80TH BIRTHDAY

     Introduced By: Senators Ciccone, and Goodwin

     Date Introduced: June 02, 2015

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, John P. Hawkins, the youngest child of William and Catherine Hawkins,

was born eighty years ago on Tuesday, June 25, 1935, at a time when our country was just

beginning to turn the corner on the Great Depression. Franklin D. Roosevelt was the President, a

gallon of gas cost only 10¢, and the average man earned around $1,600 a year; and

     WHEREAS, Raised in the City of Providence, Mr. Hawkins was indoctrinated with the

desire to serve the community through his family, many of whom have also served the state in

myriad capacities. His brother William was Chief of the state's Division of Parks and Recreation

for many years, his sister Catherine was elected to the Rhode Island Senate, where she served for

ten years, and his oldest sister was Sister Mary Macrina, RSM, who taught in a number of Rhode

Island Catholic schools; and

     WHEREAS, Upon graduation from high school, John Hawkins served our country as a

staff sergeant in the Signal Corps Research Unit of the United States Army in Kyoto, Japan, from

1954 through 1956. Once he completed his service and returned stateside, he worked as a

Providence firefighter and also continued his education, receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree and

his Master's degree in public administration from the University of Rhode Island, and

subsequently earning his Juris Doctor from Suffolk Law School; and

     WHEREAS, For many years Mr. Hawkins worked as a Providence firefighter until

November 8th of 1966, when he was elected to the Rhode Island Senate. Earning the respect and

trust of his fellow legislators, he was chosen as Senate Majority Leader in 1973. He served his

Providence constituency from 1967 through 1976, and was instrumental in creating the state's

Lottery and the Policemen's Bill of Rights, as well championing numerous other issues during his

tenure in the Senate; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to his years of service as a firefighter and in the Senate, Mr.

Hawkins was the husband of the late Jane Anne Ross and is the beloved uncle to many nieces and

nephews. He has also worked as the Attorney for the Providence Firefighter Local 799, has

served as Executive Director of the Rhode Island Lottery Commission, and has been the

Treasurer for the Retired Legislators Association that provides a number of $1,500 annual

scholarships to local high school seniors; and

     WHEREAS, John Hawkins' life has spanned eight glorious and rewarding decades.

During those years, he has had a tremendous impact on the lives of so many people and he is

eminently worthy of our recognition and gratitude; now, therefore be it

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

hereby joins the family and many friends of John P. Hawkins in honoring him on the very special

occasion of his 80th Birthday. We moreover extend our best wishes for his continued happiness

and good health, and all the very best that life has to offer; 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 the Honorable John P. Hawkins.

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LC002765

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