HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2024-4701, by Representatives Jinkins, Stokesbary,
Abbarno, Alvarado, Barkis, Barnard, Bateman, Berg, Bergquist, Berry, Bronoske,
Caldier, Callan, Chambers, Chandler, Chapman, Cheney, Chopp, Christian, Connors,
Corry, Cortes, Couture, Davis, Dent, Doglio, Donaghy, Duerr, Dye, Entenman, Eslick,
Farivar, Fey, Fitzgibbon, Fosse, Goehner, Goodman, Graham, Gregerson, Griffey,
Hackney, Harris, Hutchins, Jacobsen, Klicker, Kloba, Kretz, Leavitt, Lekanoff, Low,
Macri, Maycumber, McClintock, McEntire, Mena, Morgan, Mosbrucker, Nance, Orcutt,
Ormsby, Ortiz-Self, Orwall, Paul, Peterson, Pollet, Ramel, Ramos, Reed, Reeves,
Riccelli, Robertson, Rude, Rule, Ryu, Sandlin, Santos, Schmick, Schmidt, Senn,
Shavers, Simmons, Slatter, Springer, Stearns, Steele, Stonier, Street, Taylor,
Thai, Tharinger, Timmons, Volz, Walen, Walsh, Waters, Wylie, and Ybarra
1 WHEREAS, James Truman (JT) Wilcox III was born in Tacoma and
2 raised on his family's farm in rural Pierce County; and
3 WHEREAS, He grew up around hard-working people, family members,
4 and many others who cared for animals, tilled the soil, and raised
5 families; and
6 WHEREAS, Wilcox learned from his father, Jim Wilcox, and Billy
7 Frank Jr., that their values were intertwined in the health of the
8 Nisqually River, the richness of the soil, the abundance of the
9 salmon, and the interconnection of protecting a culture that ran
10 through the bloodlines of First Washingtonians and those who call
11 this great state home today; and
12 WHEREAS, He graduated from Yelm High School; and
13 WHEREAS, Wilcox graduated from Washington State University, where
14 he earned a bachelor's degree in history; and
15 WHEREAS, He is married to Kathy and they have three children -
16 James (Azra), Donnie (Aileen), and Katie (Zane) - and a
17 granddaughter, Emma; and
18 WHEREAS, Wilcox was employed for 23 years at his fifth-generation
19 family business, Wilcox Farms, in farming, food processing, and
20 finance; and
21 WHEREAS, He is a dairy farmer at heart; and
22 WHEREAS, Wilcox has been active in his community, including the
23 Yelm Methodist Church, Roy Volunteer Fire Department, Pacific
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 1 Education Institute, Yelm Lions Club, Graham Business Association,
2 and the Nisqually River Basin Land Trust; and
3 WHEREAS, He was elected to the Washington state House of
4 Representatives in 2010 to represent the 2nd Legislative District;
5 and
6 WHEREAS, Wilcox was elected House Republican Leader in March
7 2018, a position he held until he stepped back in April 2023; and
8 WHEREAS, He has fought for responsible state budgets, accountable
9 state government, salmon restoration, and the sustainable development
10 of natural resources for the use of the people of Washington state;
11 and
12 WHEREAS, Wilcox has advocated for the people, employers,
13 projects, and communities of the 2nd Legislative District; and
14 WHEREAS, He has a tremendous record of integrity, honesty, and a
15 sense of fairness in his commitment to the public interest—and the
16 ability to work across the aisle on common policy agendas; and
17 WHEREAS, Wilcox always tried to do the right thing as Leader and
18 prioritized his caucus, even when it was the hardest thing to do and
19 came with a high personal cost; and
20 WHEREAS, He shared with many colleagues the importance of
21 friendship—pulling up a chair for simple conversations that brought
22 so many values together; and
23 WHEREAS, As Wilcox concludes his tenure in the Washington state
24 House of Representatives, we extend our sincere appreciation for his
25 dedicated service and steadfast commitment to his legislative
26 responsibilities—his contributions have been invaluable, and his
27 presence will be missed in the Washington state legislature;
28 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives
29 recognize Wilcox's record of public service, both in and out of this
30 chamber, on behalf of his district, his colleagues, and the people of
31 the state of Washington.
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