2017 -- S 0526

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LC001508

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING BETTY JEAN MCCOLLAM LEMIEUX ON THE OCCASION OF HER 80TH

BIRTHDAY

     Introduced By: Senators Goodwin, Crowley, Metts, Lombardi, and Archambault

     Date Introduced: March 02, 2017

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Betty Jean McCollam was born into the humble home of Willis Lee

McCollam and Geraldine Lee Scheitlin on March 6, 1937, in Elkins, West Virginia. Roosevelt

was President of the United States that year, the cost of gasoline was 20¢ per gallon and bread

was only 9¢ a loaf; and

     WHEREAS, Betty Jean McCollam was one of 12 children, most of whom were born at

home. When the siblings were told to sit on the porch for a while, they would all know that when

they were able to come back inside, a new brother or sister would be waiting for them; and

     WHEREAS, The large and loving family spent many joyous hours with their father,

Willis, who would sit and play the guitar after he returned home from a long day at work. Betty,

would oftentimes stand beside him and sing along with her beautiful clear voice. Their father

was also quite a romantic, who would make special cards for his wife, Geraldine, expressing his

love for her and their children; and

     WHEREAS, In 1955, Betty Jean graduated from Elkins High School, and shortly

thereafter, left the mountains of Elkins to find work in Washington, DC. She took employment as

a waitress in a famous pancake house in Washington called "1001 Ways to Make Pancakes." Life

in Washington was never dull, and Betty would often see the Secret Service close the streets in

front of the restaurant so that the President could make his way to the church across the street;

and

     WHEREAS, Although she didn't have much time for socializing, Betty became friends

with Terry and Doug, who were originally from Rhode Island. The two were planning to return

to Rhode Island and asked Betty to join them. In 1959, she made the decision to leave

Washington and moved to Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, In those days, for a young woman to be so far away from her family, was a

very brave decision. Betty's greatest fear was where she would live, but fortunately, she was able

to find an apartment in the same building as her friends, in the City of Central Falls; and

     WHEREAS, Betty once again turned to waitressing and found her first job in her new

city at the famous Stanley's Hamburgers restaurant. She soon met many people from the area,

one of whom turned out to be her future husband, Donald Lemieux, Sr., and although it took him

numerous tries to convince Betty to go on a date with him, he eventually persevered and the

couple ultimately married and made their home in Central Falls; and

     WHEREAS, Betty and Donald are the parents of Dana and Donald, Jr., the very proud

grandparents of Joseph and Emma, and the great-grandparents of Peri, Zachary, Elizabeth,

Joshua, Danielle, Devin and Erick. Betty is now semi-retired and enjoys spending much of her

time volunteering at her church and singing in the church choir. She is also a Senior Companion

for the Blackstone Valley Community Action Program; and

     WHEREAS, Betty Jean McCollam Lemieux is a beloved gentlewoman who has impacted

the lives of so many people over the course of the past eight decades, and her joyous spirit and

exuberance for life has delighted all who have been lucky enough to be a part of her extraordinary

life; 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 Betty Jean McCollam Lemieux in honoring her on

the very special occasion of her 80th Birthday. We wish her and all the members of her family the

very best health and happiness; 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 Betty Jean McCollam Lemieux.

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LC001508

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