Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

 
                              SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 1483
                                            By Watson
                              A RESOLUTION to honor the memory of Grady Lamar Rhoden,
                                           Jr., of Chattanooga.
       WHEREAS, the members of this General Assembly were greatly saddened to learn of
the passing of Grady Lamar Rhoden, Jr.; and WHEREAS, Grady Rhoden was an exemplary public servant and consummate professional who worked assiduously to improve the quality of life for his fellow citizens in
numerous capacities; and WHEREAS, Grady Rhoden was a 1955 graduate of Chattanooga High School, where he
was president of his senior class, captain of the football team, and a member of the National Honor Society and ROTC; and WHEREAS, after his graduation from high school, Mr. Rhoden worked as a draftsman at
Wheland Company before being hired as a co-op student at Combustion Engineering; he entered Georgia Institute of Technology with funds earned from his employment at Combustion Engineering and graduated in 1960 with a degree in mechanical engineering; and WHEREAS, Grady Rhoden entered the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps after college and was stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland; Fort Benning, Georgia; Germany; and in
Florida during his two years of active duty; and WHEREAS, he served in the Army Reserve for five years and attained the rank of
captain before completing his military service; and WHEREAS, as a civilian, Mr. Rhoden worked for an assortment of companies as a mechanical and electrical engineer for a number of years before realizing his lifelong dream in
1974 to establish his own company; and WHEREAS, that year, Mr. Rhoden and his brother, Edward Rhoden, and friend Fred Wrinkle incorporated the mechanical and electrical engineering firm R-W Contractors, which SJR1483
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maintained wastewater and chemical plants across the country, from Hawaii to Boston,
Massachusetts, and did service work throughout Tennessee and Georgia; and WHEREAS, the company continued to grow until Mr. Rhoden retired in 2015; the company continues today with Edward Rhoden and his sons, Edward Rhoden, Jr., and Lamar Rhoden, at the helm; and WHEREAS, Mr. Rhoden was named Engineer of the Year in 1995 by the Chattanooga Engineering Society and gave back to his community by service on the Chattanooga Housing Authority and the Hamilton County Board of Equalization; and WHEREAS, he served two terms as president of the Chattanooga Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America and was a past chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party, having run for Tennessee's Third Congressional District seat in 1990; and WHEREAS, he was an active and devout member of the McFerrin Class at Brainerd United Methodist Church; and WHEREAS, Mr. Rhoden was also deeply devoted to his family, and he always endeavored to remain true to family values of the highest order; and WHEREAS, he was preceded in death by his parents, Grady L. Rhoden, Sr., and Elinor Poindexter Rhoden; and WHEREAS, Grady Rhoden is survived by his wife, Mary Rhoden; his children, David,
Matthew (Joanne), and Beverly (Pete Steyn); the mother of his children, Judith Rhoden; his stepchildren, Carole and Alan; his step-grandchildren, Amber, Esme, and Florence; his siblings,
Edward Rhoden and Linda (Jim McKinney); and a number of nieces and nephews, extended family members, and a host of dear friends; and WHEREAS, Grady Rhoden leaves behind an indelible legacy of integrity and probity in
public life, compassion and loyalty in private life, and diligence and dedication in all his chosen endeavors; and WHEREAS, it is fitting that the members of this General Assembly should pause to
remember the bountiful life of this exceptional public servant and human being; now, therefore,
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       BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, that we honor the memory of Grady Lamar Rhoden, Jr.,
reflecting fondly upon his impeccable character and his stalwart commitment to living the examined life with courage and conviction.
       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we express our sympathy and offer our condolences to the family of Mr. Rhoden.
       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy and upon proper request made to
the appropriate clerk, the language appearing immediately following the State seal appear without House or Senate designation.
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