HR 294 — Commending Paul Ellis Cook.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 23106003D I HOUSE RESOLUTION NO.

294 NE OfferedN February 8, 2023 Commending Paul Ellis Cook.

––––––––––Agreed Tto Patron––Morefieldby the House of Delegates, February 13, 2023 R ––––––––––O WHEREAS, Paul Ellis Cook, an esteemed member of the Richlands community whose distinctive OL announcements at Richlands High School football games over the past half-century were a reveredD tradition at the school, retired in 2022;

andandll games over the past half-century were a revered WHEREAS, a member of the Richlands High School Class of 1953, Paul "Slick" Ellis Cook was a UL proWHEREAS,proud Slickmember Cookof attended what is now King University and was drafted into the UnitedBlue CTornado Statesfootball Armyteam, insporting 1957, serving with the militarynumber police;46;

thereafter he enjoyed a successful careeE as a longtime employee at the Richlands insurance agency Lindsey & Associates and asE aStates funeralArmy director assistant at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands1957, forserving morewith thanthe 40military years;police;

andthereafter Dhe WHEREAS,enjoyed Slicka Cooksuccessful hascareer given generously of his time for the benefit of his community, serving as mayora ofD thelongtime Townemployee ofat Richlands in the 1980s and with the Richlands Towninsurance Councilagency andLindsey in& leadershipAssociates positions with the Richlands Masonic Lodge, Richlands Presbyterian Church, and Jewellas RidWHEREAS,a Slickfuneral Cookdirector beganassistant hisat career as an announcer with the RichlandsHurst-Scott youthFuneral footballHome league in 1968Richlands and briefly called games for themore Richlandsthan High40 Schoolyears; junior varsity football team before becoming the public-address announcer and in-stadium voice at Richlands High School varsity football games in 1970;

and H WHEREAS, for the past 52 years, Slick Cook has demonstratedgiven remarkablegenerously dedicationof tohis thetime 2for students,the faculty,benefit and staff of Richlands High School, missing only two games throughout his te4ure,community, whichserving wasleadership madepositions possiblewith through the lovingRichlands supportMasonic ofLodge, hisRichlands wife,Presbyterian Bonnie,Church, and theirJewell daughters;Ridge Presbyterian Church;

and WHEREAS, Slick Cook began his career as an announcer with the Richlands youth football league H in 1968 and briefly called games for the Richlands High School junior varsity football team before 2 games in 1970;

andc-address announcer and in-stadium voice at Richlands High School varsity football 4 WHEREAS, for the past 52 years, Slick Cook has demonstrated remarkable dedication to the R students, faculty, and staff of Richlands High School, missing only two games throughout his tenure, which was made possible through the loving support of his wife, Bonnie, and their daughters;

and WHEREAS, 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 overoveWHEREAS, Slick Cook was honored as grand marshal at the years;Richlands High School homecoming parade in 2022, a fitting tribute to a man who has helped to make Richlands a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family;

andnow, WHEREAS,therefore, Slick Cook was honored as grand marshal at the Richlands High School homecoming parade in 2022, a fitting tribute to a man who has helped to make Richlands a wonderful place to live, 35 worRESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Paul Ellis Cook, a true Blue Tornado icon, hereby be 36it commended on the occasion of his retirement as the announcer of Richlands High School varsity 37be football games;

and, be it / 38 RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution 39 for presentation to Paul Ellis Cook as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for his distinguishedand careerjoy andin meritoriousthe lighter days ahead.us leadership and service and sincere wishes for his continued success and joy in the lighter days ahead.