2019 -- S 0967

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LC002775

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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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 ALLEN R. "AL" SOUTHWICK

     Introduced By: Senators Sheehan, Valverde, Sosnowski, Crowley, and Quezada

     Date Introduced: June 12, 2019

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Al Southwick, known by his many friends as "Uncle Al" passed away on

June 4, 2019. Mr. Southwick was born in Browerville, Minnesota, a son of the late Thomas and

Emma Southwick. He was a long-time resident of North Kingstown and a beloved fixture within

the community and the Town's Recreation Department for which he worked for forty years,

including nineteen as director; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Southwick was born to a military family in Minnesota, and was a self-

described Marine brat as a youngster as he and his family moved to numerous places including

California, North Carolina and Maine, before they settled down in North Kingstown; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Southwick was a star baseball player in high school, playing every

position but catcher. He was so talented, he even received a tryout with the New York Yankees in

1964. Since those early days, he has remained active in athletics, playing pick-up basketball

games and participating in local baseball and basketball leagues, including coaching a Babe Ruth

League team in the 1960's and being elected President of the League in 1967; and

     WHEREAS, In December of 1974, Mr. Southwick was hired to serve as the North

Kingstown Program Coordinator for the Recreation Department, and through the years served as

an instructor, coach, bus driver, beloved "uncle" to many youngsters, and worked tirelessly

behind the scenes to register kids for events, to find coaches and craft schedules. More

importantly, he was beloved for his gregarious nature and seemingly limitless energy and

enthusiasm for helping kids and serving the community; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Southwick was also well-known for the colorful vehicles he drove in

the performance of his duties. Most famous was the recreation department's "Big Blue Bus" that

he drove for decades as he chaperoned the town's children to and from an assortment of athletic

activities including baseball games, gymnastics programs, and roller skating. He also drove a

second "flashy" vehicle for the recreation department, a yellow four-door, military-looking

convertible Volkswagon Type 181, known by all simply as "The Thing."; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Southwick leaves behind his brothers, John Southwick and his wife,

Alma Gay, and Lynnwood Southwick. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews and cousins;

and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Southwick's passing is a grievous loss for his family, many friends, and

the North Kingstown community. Mr. Southwick leaves behind a legacy of service that will be

long-remembered by all who knew and loved him; now, therefore be it

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

hereby expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of Mr. Al Southwick; 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 John Southwick, Lynnwood Southwick and

North Kingstown Recreation Department.

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LC002775

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