2016 -- H 8109

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LC005794

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING SHEILA MULLOWNEY ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT AS

EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF THE NEWPORT DAILY NEWS

     Introduced By: Representatives Ruggiero, Reilly, Carson, Edwards, and Abney

     Date Introduced: April 27, 2016

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Sheila Mullowney, executive editor of the Edward A. Sherman Publishing

Co. since 2006, is retiring after fifteen years of informing and educating the people of Aquidneck

Island in her various journalistic capacities; and

     WHEREAS, Ms. Mullowney grew up in Western New York. When her high school

began publishing a student newspaper, her future unfolded and by senior year, she was the paper's

co-editor-in-chief. She attended Syracuse University on a newspaper journalism scholarship and

upon graduation, began working for a chain of weekly newspapers in Queens, New York; and

     WHEREAS, A chance encounter on a beach at Matunuck, while visiting a friend in

Rhode Island, eventually led to a marriage proposal and relocation to the Ocean State. Sheila and

her husband, Stephen Mullowney, who was originally from North Kingstown, now make their

home in Middletown; and

     WHEREAS, After marrying and moving, Ms. Mullowney's preliminary attempts to find

employment in Rhode Island proved difficult but she soon landed a position with The Norwich

Bulletin, a daily Connecticut newspaper, where she gained experience as a reporter, copy editor,

bureau chief and assistant city editor; and

     WHEREAS, In 1999, she once again began to search for a job closer to home, and to the

immense benefit of the citizenry of Aquidneck Island, she became a copy editor at The Daily

News. As a result of her tireless energy, meticulous attention to detail, and an understanding and

the ability to cover any job in the newsroom, she was soon named city editor, and shortly

thereafter, managing editor; and

     WHEREAS, In 2006, Ms. Mullowney was named executive editor of the Edward A.

Sherman Publishing Co., with responsibilities that included oversight of the editorial operations

for The Daily News and its sister publications Newport Life Magazine, Mercury, The

Independent and South County Life Magazine; and

     WHEREAS, During Ms. Mullowney's tenure at The Daily News, the newspaper industry

morphed with the explosion of internet and an increasingly digital world, but she determinately

and successfully kept the paper on pace and current with innovations and a commitment to

comprehensive local news coverage; and

     WHEREAS, Turning the page on a new chapter of her life, Sheila Mullowney has taken a

position as a communications specialist for ICI Services Corp., where she will write and edit for

Soundings, a monthly publication focused on the Naval Undersea Warfare Center and the Naval

Surface Warfare Center. And although she is leaving The Newport Daily News, she will

continue to be a contributing and vital part of the Aquidneck Island community she loves so

much; now, therefore be it

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

Providence Plantations hereby congratulates Sheila Mullowney on her new position with ICI

Services Corp., and thanks her on behalf of all Rhode Islanders for her eloquent and informative

journalism and editorial leadership with The Daily News. We moreover commend her for her

many accomplishments, and wish her the very best health and continued success in all her future

endeavors; 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 Sheila Mullowney.

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LC005794

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