2022 -- H 7010

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF RICHARD P. KEARNS

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Kennedy, Edwards, Casey,
Phillips, Newberry, Filippi, Messier, and Craven

     Date Introduced: January 06, 2022

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness that this House of Representatives has learned of the

passing of the Honorable Richard P. “Dick” Kearns, a long-time public servant who served the

State of Rhode Island, the citizens of Woonsocket and the Rhode Island General Assembly with

integrity and excellence for more than thirty years; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Kearns was born in Woonsocket and had lived in North Smithfield for

many years. He was a graduate of Georgetown University and Georgetown Law School and was

an accomplished attorney who also served the City of Woonsocket with distinction as a City

Solicitor and as a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1975 to 1986. Mr.

Kearns also served our nation with honor as a member of the Rhode Island National Guard’s

243rd Engineer Battalion; and

     WHEREAS, Richard Kearns served the Rhode Island General Assembly as Speaker John

Harwood’s Chief Legal Counsel and Director of the Joint Committee on Legislative Services

(JCLS) from 1993 to 2002, and also served Speaker William Murphy from 2003 to 2010 as Chief

Legal Counsel. He was highly regarded for his tireless work ethic, his political acumen and his

wise legal advice; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Kearns also served as the Secretary of the Woonsocket Democratic City

Committee, Past President of the Woonsocket Varsity Club, and was former counsel to the

Woonsocket Board of Tenant Affairs. He also served as a member of the Commission to Study

Criminal Procedure, the Rhode Island and Woonsocket Bar Associations, and the Woonsocket

Rotary Club. In his spare time, Mr. Kearns was an avid skier and a passionate car enthusiast and

fan of all things related to auto racing; now, therefore be it

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

expresses its deepest condolences to the Kearns Family on the passing of Mr. Richard P. Kearns;

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 Kearns Family.

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