2017 -- S 0698

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LC002372

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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 THOMAS L. PAPA FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Senators Paiva Weed, Ruggerio, Goodwin, McCaffrey, and Lynch Prata

     Date Introduced: March 30, 2017

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, On August 28, 2014, Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed named

Thomas L. Papa as Chief of Staff to the Rhode Island Senate. Since that day, the Ocean State has

been the beneficiary of the keen intellect, extreme patience, and abiding dedication to excellence

that Thomas "Tom" Papa brought to that position each and every day of his State House service;

and

     WHEREAS, Laying the foundation to take on his future career challenges, Tom earned

his Associate's degree in Applied Science/Fire Science from the Community College of Rhode

Island and his Bachelor's degree in Public Administration from Roger Williams University; and

     WHEREAS, Tom's responsibilities as Chief of Staff for the Senate have included

managing the Senate's staff along with the coordination of myriad details and multifarious

scheduling of meetings and events, an often Herculean task, requiring long hours and immense

aptitude and ability; and

     WHEREAS, Held in the highest esteem by the legislature and staff, Tom's calm

demeanor and previous training in putting out fires has proven to be an invaluable asset during

many a stressful situation and to the overall proficiency of the entire Senate legislative process;

and

     WHEREAS, Previous to his years with the Senate, Tom was Associate Director of the

government relations firm F/S Capitol Consulting, LLC, had served as the legislative agent for

the Rhode Island State Association of Fire Fighters, and for 25 years, was a member of the

Woonsocket Fire Department, where he received numerous Meritorious Service Awards and

retired in 2009 at the rank of Captain; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to his work at the State House, Tom has dedicated many hours to

his community serving as President of the Museum of Work & Culture's preservation board and

as a member of the United Way of Rhode Island Community Advisory Committee; and

     WHEREAS, In his leisure time, Tom Papa enjoys fine cigars and is a diehard Patriots

fan, and while he generally maintains a professional and politically correct appearance, his shirt

describing Commissioner Goodell is definitely attire that former Senate President Paiva Weed

would surely prefer he not ever wear in public; and

     WHEREAS, Tom Papa's tireless devotion to the task at hand has earned him the

unqualified admiration and respect of the entire Senate for enhancing the overall proficiency of

the legislative process, and he will most assuredly be missed at the State House; now, therefore be

it

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

hereby recognizes and sincerely thanks Thomas L. Papa for the countless hours and all too

frequent late evenings he has worked over the course of his career in service to the Rhode Island

Senate and the people of this state. We moreover wish Tom good health, much happiness, and

success in all his 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 Mr. Thomas L. Papa.

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LC002372

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