House Concurrent Resolution 4

Whereas the Honorable Robert William (Bob) Straub served as the 31st Governor of the State of Oregon from January 13, 1975, to January 8, 1979; and

Whereas prior to being elected Governor, Bob Straub served two terms as State Treasurer from 1965 to 1972, as a state Senator representing Lane County from 1959 to 1963, as Lane County Commissioner from 1955 to 1959 and as a second lieutenant in the United States Army during World War II; and

Whereas as State Treasurer, Bob Straub introduced modern business and investment practices, putting all of the state's money to work earning interest resulting in billions of dollars in revenue to pay for services for Oregonians; and

Whereas Bob Straub compiled an impressive record as a defender of Oregon's beaches and led the successful opposition to a plan to reroute a section of U.S. Highway 101 across the scenic Nestucca Spit near Pacific City, an area that today is named the Bob Straub State Park; and

Whereas Bob Straub proposed a greenway along the Willamette River to preserve public access to the river; and

Whereas as Governor, Bob Straub helped to reduce the unemployment rate in this state from 12 percent to 5 percent, the first time in a decade that Oregon's unemployment rate was lower than the national rate; and

Whereas more women, minorities and persons with disabilities were appointed to top government positions in Bob Straub's administration than under any Governor in Oregon's history to that point; and

Whereas Bob Straub understood the vital role of transportation in community vitality and environmental quality and led the effort to redirect funding away from the Mount Hood Freeway and into what would become MAX, Portland's highly regarded light rail transit system; and

Whereas Bob Straub created Oregon Project Independence, a program that provides in-home services to seniors to help them continue living on their own, outside of nursing homes, as long as possible; and

Whereas Bob Straub faced the final battle of his life, Alzheimer's disease, with grace, courage and dignity, and talked publicly about the disease in hopes of bringing more attention to research for a cure; and

Whereas this unassuming man, who embodied the best of the state he served, died on the eve of Thanksgiving, November 27, 2002; and

Whereas on December 18, 2002, scores of Oregonians joined the Straub family for a memorial service at the State Capitol, where tribute was paid to Robert William Straub by former Governors Mark Hatfield, Victor Atiyeh, Neil Goldschmidt and Barbara Roberts, Governor John Kitzhaber and Governor-elect Ted Kulongoski; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon:

That we, the members of the Seventy-second Legislative Assembly, for ourselves and for the people of the State of Oregon, mourn the passing of Robert William Straub and recognize his distinguished career, remarkable legacy and significant accomplishments; and be it further

Resolved, That we extend sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family of our late Governor, including his wife and helpmate of 59 years, Pat, a beloved former First Lady of this state, his sister Jean, his five children, 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate, be sent to each person named above with the thanks of the Legislative Assembly and the people of Oregon for the service and achievements of Robert William Straub.

Filed in the office of Secretary of State May 28, 2003

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