FILED SENATE
Sep 16, 2021
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
S.R. 736
SESSION 2021 PRINCIPAL CLERK
S D
SENATE SIMPLE RESOLUTION DRSR45461-LG-16C
Sponsors: Senators Davis, Blue, and Berger (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to:
1 A SENATE RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF MARC BASNIGHT,
2 FORMER PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE.
3 Whereas, Marc Basnight was born in Manteo, North Carolina, on May 13, 1947, to
4 Saint Clair Basnight and Cora Mae Daniels Basnight; and
5 Whereas, after graduating from Manteo High School in 1966, Marc Basnight worked
6 for the Basnight Construction Company, a business focused primarily on water, sewer, and
7 related construction; and
8 Whereas, in 1977, Marc Basnight was appointed to the North Carolina Board of
9 Transportation where he worked diligently to improve roads and bridges in Camden, Chowan,
10 Currituck, Dare, Pasquotank, and Perquimans Counties; and
11 Whereas, Marc Basnight's tenure on the Board of Transportation ended in 1983, but
12 that experience sparked a greater interest and desire to serve the public; and
13 Whereas, Marc Basnight was elected to the General Assembly as a State Senator in
14 1984 and served 13 terms until he retired in 2011. He worked hard and became an effective
15 leader, serving as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and, in 1993, began the first of
16 nine consecutive terms as President Pro Tempore of the Senate, making him the longest-serving
17 legislative leader in North Carolina's history; and
18 Whereas, some of Senator Basnight's most significant accomplishments include the
19 establishment of the Clean Water Management Trust Fund in 1996 to create a recurring revenue
20 source to provide funds to preserve environmentally sensitive areas and to help communities
21 improve water quality; the passage of a 3.1 billion dollar bond package in 2000 to help public
22 universities and community colleges build and repair critical facilities; the opening of the North
23 Carolina Cancer Hospital to treat cancer patients from all across the State; and the creation of the
24 University Cancer Research Fund to provide millions of dollars annually for cancer research; and
25 Whereas, Senator Basnight took a genuine interest in the people of North Carolina,
26 especially his neighbors in the northeastern region. He was known to stop during his commute
27 from Manteo to Raleigh at country stores, restaurants, local businesses, and historic sites to talk
28 with residents about their lives and concerns; and
29 Whereas, Senator Basnight supported historic and cultural arts funding in rural areas,
30 which he believed would improve tourism and enhance economic development; and
31 Whereas, Senator Basnight thoroughly enjoyed serving the State, but his heart always
32 remained in his beloved hometown of Manteo where, in 1996, along with his family, he opened
33 Basnight's Lone Cedar Café, a restaurant that specializes in fresh and local Outer Banks seafood;
34 and
35 Whereas, Senator Basnight received numerous awards and honors for his public
36 service, including the Conservation Legislator of the Year Award from the North Carolina Land
37 Trust Council in 2003; Pelican Award for Best Senate Legislator from the North Carolina Coastal
*DRSR45461-LG-16C*
 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021
1 Federation in 2003; Razor Walker Award for Contributions to Public Education from the R.
2 Donald Watson School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 2001;
3 Special Leadership Award from the North Carolina State University Alumni Association in 1999;
4 and the William Richardson Davie Award from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
5 in 1995; and
6 Whereas, Senator Basnight was recognized nine times as the Most Effective Senator
7 by the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research and received honorary doctorate degrees
8 from Elizabeth City State University in 2002 and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
9 in 1999; and
10 Whereas, in 2019, Senator Basnight's dedication and service to the State were
11 recognized and honored when a new 2.8-mile bridge replacing the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge
12 over Oregon Inlet was named the Marc Basnight Bridge; and
13 Whereas, Marc Basnight was active as a member of several civic and fraternal
14 organizations, including the Masonic Order, 32nd Degree; Manteo Lions Club; First Flight
15 Society; and Dare County Tourist Bureau, of which he was chair from 1974 to 1976; and
16 Whereas, Marc Basnight died on December 28, 2020, at his Manteo home, at the age
17 of 73; and
18 Whereas, Marc Basnight was preceded in death by his parents; beloved wife, Carolyn
19 "Sandy" Tillett Basnight; brother, E.J. Alford; and sister, Sarah Owens; and
20 Whereas, Marc Basnight is survived by his devoted daughters, Vicki and Caroline;
21 loving grandchildren, Brayden, Marc Crew, and Kennedy; sisters, Dotty Fry, Sally Scarborough,
22 and Della Basnight; and brother, Saint Clair Basnight, Jr.; Now, therefore,
23 Be it resolved by the Senate:
24 SECTION 1. The Senate honors the life and memory of Senator Marc Basnight, the
25 longest-serving legislative leader in North Carolina's history, and expresses the deep gratitude
26 and appreciation of this State and its citizens for the invaluable service he rendered to the people
27 of northeastern North Carolina and the entire State.
28 SECTION 2. The Senate extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Senator Marc
29 Basnight for the loss of a beloved family member.
30 SECTION 3. The Principal Clerk shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the family
31 of Senator Marc Basnight.
32 SECTION 4. This resolution is effective upon adoption.
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