1 State of Arkansas
2 94th General Assembly
3 Regular Session, 2023 SR 61
4
5 By: Senators Hickey, Hester, J. Boyd, J. Bryant, Caldwell, L. Chesterfield, A. Clark, Crowell, B. Davis,
6 Dees, J. Dismang, J. Dotson, J. English, Flippo, S. Flowers, Gilmore, K. Hammer, Hill, Irvin, B. Johnson,
7 M. Johnson, B. King, G. Leding, F. Love, M. McKee, R. Murdock, J. Payton, C. Penzo, J. Petty, Rice,
8 Stone, G. Stubblefield, D. Sullivan, C. Tucker, D. Wallace
9
10 SENATE RESOLUTION
11 CONGRATULATING CHARLES STEVEN “STEVE” COOK, SENATE
12 PARLIAMENTARIAN, UPON HIS RETIREMENT AND COMMENDING
13 HIM FOR HIS THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO
14 THE SENATE AND FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF CONTRIBUTION TO
15 THE STATE OF ARKANSAS.
16
17
18 Subtitle
19 CONGRATULATING CHARLES STEVEN “STEVE”
20 COOK, SENATE PARLIAMENTARIAN, UPON HIS
21 RETIREMENT AND COMMENDING HIM FOR HIS
22 THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO
23 THE SENATE AND FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF
24 CONTRIBUTION TO THE STATE OF ARKANSAS.
25
26
27 WHEREAS, Mr. Charles Steven “Steve” Cook, a native of Arkansas, began
28 his career with the Senate in 1985 and after thirty-eight (38) years will
29 retire; and
30
31 WHEREAS, Steve Cook earned his Bachelor’s degrees in History and
32 Political Science from Arkansas Tech University and his Juris Doctorate
33 degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville; and
34
35 WHEREAS, prior to joining the Senate in 1985, Steve Cook began his
36 career working in the legislative branch of government on September 4, 1979,
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1 as a bill drafter and committee staff analyst for the Bureau of Legislative
2 Research; and
3
4 WHEREAS, upon moving to the Senate, Steve Cook was hired to be the
5 Assistant Chief of Staff and then became the Senate’s Chief Counsel and
6 Parliamentarian; and
7
8 WHEREAS, Steve Cook has witnessed the evolution of the Senate including
9 the era of “Max and Knox,” the “Brotherhood,” term limits, and a change in
10 majority party control from Democratic to Republican for the first time since
11 Reconstruction; and
12
13 WHEREAS, Steve Cook has been a counselor, mentor, confidant, and friend
14 to the senators and Senate staff while preserving the standard of his role in
15 the Senate and protecting the legislative institution as a whole; and
16
17 WHEREAS, during Steve Cook’s tenure with the Senate, he has worked with
18 twenty-one (21) different Presidents Pro Tempore of the Senate and twenty-two
19 (22) General Assemblies and served each member during these past thirty-eight
20 (38) years in a manner that exemplifies his commitment to public service; and
21
22 WHEREAS, Steve Cook is admired and respected by the senators for his
23 discretion, nonpartisanship, historical knowledge of the Senate, humor,
24 kindness, insight, and legal ability; and
25
26 WHEREAS, while Steve Cook will be greatly missed by the General
27 Assembly, his retirement will allow him to spend more time with his wife Mary
28 Kaye McKinney, his daughter Melanie Ann Higgins, and his two (2) grandsons
29 Jay and Palmer; and
30
31 WHEREAS, Steve Cook has been integral in forging a strong working
32 relationship between the House of Representatives and the Bureau of
33 Legislative Research and has done so to ensure a cohesive General Assembly
34 that works towards a common goal; and
35
36 WHEREAS, Marty Garrity, the Director of the Bureau of Legislative
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1 Research, stated “Steve has been such a valuable resource for me and I know
2 that I would not be where I am without him. Steve has become more than just a
3 colleague but is a true friend and I am so grateful for his support. The
4 Bureau of Legislative Research and the Senate are a much better place because
5 of Steve.”; and
6
7 WHEREAS, Senator Bart Hester, President Pro Tempore of the Senate,
8 stated “Steve’s unique personality has been a gift to the Senate. He has the
9 ability to navigate the many personalities within the Senate and in doing so
10 has fostered a unequivocal level of trust among the senators year after year.
11 His dependable and unwavering knowledge of the Senate procedures and rules of
12 the uppermost chamber is an immeasurable value to the Senate and the State of
13 Arkansas",
14
15 NOW THEREFORE,
16 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
17 STATE OF ARKANSAS:
18
19 THAT the Senate commend Charles Steven “Steve” Cook for his
20 distinguished service to the State of Arkansas and the legislative branch of
21 government, thank him for his countless contributions, and wish him all the
22 best in his retirement.
23
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, upon adoption, the Secretary of the Senate
25 provide a copy of this resolution to Steve Cook.
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