HOUSE MEMORIAL 36

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2020

INTRODUCED BY

Brian Egolf and Joy Garratt and Deborah A. Armstrong and Patricia Roybal Caballero and Marian Matthews

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

HONORING WILLIAM "BILL" PRATT AND RECOGNIZING HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO NEW MEXICO.

 

     WHEREAS, William "Bill" Pratt, who served as a Democratic state representative for district 27 as a freshman legislator in 2019, died in Albuquerque on December 25, 2019; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Pratt served one year of a two-year term; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Pratt was born in 1935 in Camden, New Jersey; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Pratt was educated in New Jersey public schools and earned a bachelor's degree from Wesleyan university and a medical degree from Jefferson medical college in Philadelphia; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Pratt was a retired orthopedic surgeon and professor of medicine at the university of New Mexico school of medicine; and

     WHEREAS, during his medical career, Representative Pratt was an orthopedic surgeon at the Gallup Indian medical center, the Alaska Native medical center and Raymond G. Murphy department of veterans affairs medical center; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Pratt began his term in the state house of representatives after winning a close election in the northeast heights district; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Pratt served on the following standing committees: enrolling and engrossing; health and human services; and local government, land grants and cultural affairs; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Pratt also served on the interim courts, corrections and justice and legislative health and human services committees; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Pratt had a long history of advocacy and leadership on the health security for New Mexicans campaign; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Pratt was passionate about providing comprehensive statewide health care, becoming the leader of the physicians for the Health Security Act group and subsequently serving on the campaign's executive committee until he was elected a state representative; and

     WHEREAS, during Representative Pratt's first legislative session, he was instrumental in ensuring that funding would be available for hiring consultants to conduct the fiscal analysis of the Health Security Act, and his legacy will live on in the fight to secure comprehensive health care; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Pratt also sponsored a bill that would have made it easier for independents to run for office by reducing the number of signatures required to file for candidacy; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Pratt's death was mourned by his colleagues on both sides of the political aisle; and

     WHEREAS, Speaker of the House of Representatives Brian Egolf stated that Representative Pratt had shown himself as a man of integrity and character and noted that his presence in the legislature would be sorely missed; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Deborah A. Armstrong praised Representative Pratt for his strong advocacy of public health and for co-sponsoring legislation for improvements to the Dee Johnson Clean Indoor Air Act; and

     WHEREAS, House Minority Floor Leader James G. Townsend described Representative Pratt as an exceptional leader whose collegial character and passion for his constituents will be missed at the state capitol; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Pratt will be remembered for his optimism, his calm nature and his commitment to always "do the right thing" for the people of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Pratt is survived by his wife of forty-two years, Sally R. Pratt; his daughters, Amy Pratt Candelaria and husband, Danny, and Julie Pratt Mudlo and husband, John; his granddaughter, Katie Blankenship and husband, John; his stepsons, Alan S. Cota and wife, Julie, and Terry M. Cota and wife, Rhonda; and his siblings, Robert Pratt and wife, Alix, and Marjorie Pratt Fink and husband, Robert;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that William "Bill" Pratt be honored and recognized for his public service and dedication to the residents of New Mexico and his strong advocacy for public health; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to Sally R. Pratt.

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