06 LC 14
9354
House
Resolution 1856
By:
Representatives Cummings of the
16th,
Richardson of the
19th,
Burkhalter of the
50th,
Keen of the
179th,
Porter of the
143rd,
and others
A
RESOLUTION
Authorizing
the placement in the Capitol of a portrait of former Speaker of the House Thomas
B. Murphy; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
Honorable Thomas B. Murphy was born in Bremen, Georgia, on March 10, 1924, and
graduated from Bremen High School in 1941 and North Georgia College in 1943;
and
WHEREAS,
he served with valor and distinction in the United States Navy in World War II
from 1943 to 1946 and following his military service he attended the University
of Georgia Law School and graduated in 1949; and
WHEREAS,
he became widely recognized as one of the wisest and most able members of the
Georgia Bar; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Murphy entered public service as a member of the Bremen Board of Education
in 1948 and served on that board until 1965, including service as Chairman from
1960 to 1965; and
WHEREAS,
he served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1961 until the convening
of the 2003 session, including service as Administration Floor Leader in the
1967-68 term and as Speaker Pro Tempore in the 1971-72 and 1973-74 terms;
and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Murphy was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives on
December 19, 1973, to fill the unexpired term of the late Geo. L. Smith II;
he went on to serve as Speaker through January 12, 2003, making him the
longest-serving Speaker in the history of Georgia; and during his tenure as
Speaker he was for many years the longest-serving active presiding officer of
any state legislature; and
WHEREAS,
in Georgia political circles, political allies and opponents alike came to
respect Mr. Murphy for his honor, candor, commitment to principle, and devotion
to the best interests of the State of Georgia; and
WHEREAS,
many current members of this body served with Mr. Murphy and knew him as a man
of deep and abiding faith and moral courage; a devoted family man; a lover of
sports and nature; and a steadfast friend.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY that in recognition of his
long and outstanding record of public service, there shall be authorized the
placement of a portrait of former Speaker Thomas B. Murphy on the third floor of
the State Capitol Building in a location on the House side of the building to be
determined by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Fiscal Officer, under the direction of
the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate, is
authorized to accept on behalf of the General Assembly a gift or permanent loan
of any appropriate portrait which may be in existence and available for this
purpose or, if no such gift or permanent loan is forthcoming, to commission the
painting of an appropriate portrait for this purpose and pay the cost thereof
from legislative funds.