PRINTER'S NO. 488
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 59
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HUTCHINSON, BROOKS, LANGERHOLC, MASTRIANO, FARRY,
BAKER, TARTAGLIONE, HUGHES, FONTANA, BROWN, PENNYCUICK,
ROBINSON, LAUGHLIN, BARTOLOTTA, HAYWOOD, PITTMAN, K. WARD,
COSTA, PHILLIPS-HILL, VOGEL, CULVER, STEFANO, COLEMAN, DUSH,
MARTIN, GEBHARD, ARGALL, YAW, J. WARD, PICOZZI, KEEFER AND
ROTHMAN, MARCH 26, 2025
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, MARCH 26, 2025
A RESOLUTION
1 Honoring the life, leadership and memory of the Honorable Mary
2 Jo White and expressing heartfelt condolences to her family,
3 friends and colleagues.
4 WHEREAS, Mary Jo White was born December 27, 1941, to Joseph
5 and Patricia Ransford, in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated from
6 Aquinas Girls Catholic Prep School in 1959; and
7 WHEREAS, Senator White earned a bachelor of arts degree from
8 Quincy University in 1963 and earned a Juris Doctor from the
9 University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1967 where she met her
10 husband while serving on Law Review; and
11 WHEREAS, Upon graduation, she diligently worked as an
12 associate at the Law Firm of Dale and Woodward and then served
13 as a public defender for the residents of Venango County until
14 1976 when she joined Quaker State Oil Corporation for a long and
15 impactful career after starting in the company's law department
16 and quickly becoming its Vice President for Environmental and
 1 Governmental Affairs; and
2 WHEREAS, Her legacy is best found in representing the 21st
3 Senatorial District where she tirelessly advocated for sound
4 environmental policy, rural communities and equal rights for
5 women; and
6 WHEREAS, As a dedicated public servant, Senator White chaired
7 the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for
8 twelve years, bringing a practical approach to and active
9 engagement in the passage of major environmental laws and
10 advocating for policies that allowed for oil, gas and coal
11 extraction while still protecting the natural beauty of
12 Pennsylvania and its wildlife; and
13 WHEREAS, Senator White's work in environmental matters led to
14 her serving on the Wild Resource Conservation Fund, the Joint
15 Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation
16 Committee and the Environmental Quality Board; and
17 WHEREAS, Known for analyzing the facts first, Senator White
18 continued spirited practical public service in the consideration
19 of complicated issues in her role as Vice Chair of the Consumer
20 Protections and Professional Licensure Committee and membership
21 on the Senate Appropriations, Judiciary and Public Health and
22 Welfare Committees; and
23 WHEREAS, Senator White was a leading advocate and champion of
24 the nursing profession represented by her supportive efforts for
25 nursing care in rural areas of this Commonwealth; and
26 WHEREAS, Senator White served as the first woman elected to
27 Senate Republican Leadership in her role as Caucus Administrator
28 from 2001 to 2006; and
29 WHEREAS, Her service went beyond her work in the Pennsylvania
30 Senate with passionate engagement on numerous local community
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 1 boards and commitment to higher education by serving on the
2 Board of Trustees for the University of Pittsburgh, Clarion
3 University, Slippery Rock University and Westminster College, as
4 well as advocating for the creation of Northern Pennsylvania
5 Regional College and serving as its founding board member; and
6 WHEREAS, Senator White is survived by her loving husband of
7 58 years, H. William White, Jr., and their children, H. William
8 White, III, David White, Allison Werder and seven grandchildren;
9 therefore be it
10 RESOLVED, That the Senate honor the life, leadership and
11 memory of the Honorable Mary Jo White and express heartfelt
12 condolences to her family, friends and colleagues.
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