SR 110 — Commending Paul Ellis Cook.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 23103674D I SENATE RESOLUTION NO.

110 NE Offered January 30, 2023 Commending Paul Ellis Cook.

––––––––––N TAgreed Patron––Hackworthto Rby –––––––––– WHEREAS, Paul Ellis Cook, an esteemed member of the RichlandsSenate, communityFebruary whose2, distinctive2023 R O announcements at Richlands High School football games over the past half-century were a reveredDrevered L tradition at the school, retired in 2022;

and L WHEREAS, a member of the Richlands High School Class of 1953, Paul "Slick" Cook was a proud U memWHEREAS, Slick Cook attended what is now King University and was drafted into the United CE States Army in 1957, serving with the military police;

thereafter he enjoyed a successful careeEcareer as a D longtime employee of the Richlands insurance agency, Lindsey & Associates;

and D WHEREAS, Slick Cook has given generously of his time for the benefit of his community, serving as mayor of the Town of Richlands in the 1980s and on the Richlands Town Council and in leadership positions with the Richlands Masonic Lodge, Richlands Presbyterian Church, and Jewell Ridge PreWHEREAS,Presbyterian SlickChurch; Cook began his career as an announcer with the Richlands youth football league in 1968 and briefly called games for the Richlands High School junior varsity football team before becoming the public-address announcer and in-stadium voice at Richlands High School varsity football games in 1970;

and Sin WHEREAS,1968 forand thebriefly pastcalled 52games years,for Slick Cook has demonstrated remarkable dedication to the 1 students, faculty, and staff of Richlands High School,School missingjunior onlyvarsity twofootball gamesteam throughoutbefore hisR te0ure,becoming whichthe waspublic-address madeannouncer possibleand throughin-stadium thevoice lovingat supportRichlands ofHigh hisSchool wife,varsity Bonnie,football and1 theirgames daughters;in 1970;

and announcerE atWHEREAS, Richlandsfor Bluethe Tornadopast football52 games,years, demonstratingSlick greatCook reverencehas towarddemonstrated remarkable dedication to the NationalR Anthemwhich andwas respectmade towardpossible through the nation'sloving servicesupport members;of his wife, Bonnie, and their daughters;

andandure, WHEREAS, Slick Cook has consistently demonstrated his love for the country in his capacity as announcer at Richlands Blue Tornado football games, demonstrating great reverence toward the National AntWHEREAS, Slick Cook called the first game of the Richlands High School football season in August 2022 as a touching farewell to the fans of Blue Tornado football who have admired his work over the years;

and WHEREAS, Slick Cook was honored as grand marshal at the Richlands High School homecoming paradework, inand 2022,raise a fittingfamily; tribute to a man who has helped to make Richlands a wonderful place to live, :

35now, worRESOLVEDtherefore, be ithas helped to make Richlands a wonderful place to live, RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That Paul Ellis Cook, a true Blue Tornado icon, hereby be 36 commended on the occasion of his retirement as the announcer of Richlands High School varsity /fooRESOLVED 37FURTHER, footballThat games;the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Paul Ellis Cook as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's admiration for his distinguished career and meritorious leadership and service and sincere wishes for his continued success and joy in the lighter days ahead.

and, be it / 38 RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for 39 presentation to Paul Ellis Cook as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's admiration for his distinguished career and meritorious leadership and service and sincere wishes for his continued success and joy in the lighter days ahead.