HOUSE MEMORIAL 59

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

W. Ken Martinez

A MEMORIAL

IN REMEMBRANCE OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE STEPHEN EASLEY.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico lost one of its brightest visionaries with the death of state Representative Stephen Easley this summer; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Easley, a political newcomer recognized for his intelligence, compassion and consensus-building skills, passed away on August 14, 2013; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Easley received a bachelor of arts in Spanish from Purdue university in 1973, a master of arts degree in 1975 and a doctor of philosophy degree in 1982 in biological anthropology from Washington university; and

      WHEREAS, Representative Easley was a first-term legislator for the 2013 session and represented the sprawling district 50, which includes parts of Bernalillo, Santa Fe, Torrance and Valencia counties; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Easley was a firm believer that it was his civic duty to "pay it forward" and participate in government to better the lives and future of New Mexicans; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Easley firmly believed that traditional values such as individual liberty, a collective responsibility to care for the least fortunate and full civil rights and equality for every American make the United States a great country; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Easley strongly believed in civil discourse in the marketplace of ideas; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Easley was passionate about the preservation of New Mexico's clean air, water and land by using the state's natural resources to develop new and proven clean energy sources; and

     WHEREAS, colleagues use words such as "brilliant", "impressive" and "upbeat" to describe Representative Easley; and

     WHEREAS, Speaker of the House W. Ken Martinez was on the receiving end of Representative Easley's well-known sense of humor when a controversial last-minute vote passed the house in the final seconds of the 2013 legislative session and prompted Representative Easley to say, "Does the speaker have an atomic clock? I think not."; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Easley is survived by his wife, Sue; two daughters; and two granddaughters;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the integrity, intelligence and compassion exemplified by Representative Easley be honored; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that legislators recognize that they have lost a friend, and that all New Mexico residents recognize that they have lost an exceptional public servant, with the passing of Representative Easley; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the family of Representative Easley.

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