Speaker Rick Johnson and Reps. Richardville, Julian, Gaffney, Woronchak, Stewart, Taub, Pastor, Farrah, Stallworth, Reeves, Jamnick, Byrum, McConico, Accavitti, Condino, Hunter, Dennis, O'Neil, Minore, Smith, Kolb, Anderson, Williams, Lipsey, Whitmer, Brown, Adamini, Hopgood, Cheeks, Emmons, Hardman, Shulman, Waters, Bieda, Gillard, Murphy, Plakas, Sak, Sheltrown, Spade, Vagnozzi, Caswell, Daniels, DeRossett, Ehardt, Elkins, Gieleghem, Gleason, Hager, Meyer, Nitz, Rivet, Stakoe, Tobocman, Clack, Caul and Koetje offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 241.

A resolution recognizing Edward H. McNamara upon his completion of more than 40 years as a public official in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, Mr. McNamara’s commitment to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of public services has been his guiding principle through every elective office he has held during his 40 years as a public official, starting as a school board member in Dearborn Heights, a city councilman, as the mayor of Livonia, and later as the Wayne County Executive.  His leadership and dedication rebuilt the infrastructure and improved services to the citizens he served; and

Whereas, During his 16-year tenure as Wayne County Executive, Edward H. McNamara took an active role in rebuilding a near-bankrupt county government into one that moves forward into the 21st century with stability and a solid governmental infrastructure; and

Whereas, Mr. McNamara expanded and modernized the Detroit-Wayne County Metropolitan Airport and thereby created a catalyst that will continue to stimulate the region and state's economy for years to come, with one of the highest capacity airfields in the nation and passenger terminals that make it a world-class facility; and

Whereas, He established healthcare programs for the indigent and working poor that not only provide affordable medical care, but also reduce the financial burden on the county's taxpayers for uninsured medical services; and

Whereas, He replaced an aging and dilapidated youth home with a state-of-the-art juvenile detention facility that provides a secured, temporary holding environment for incarcerated youths.  Mr. McNamara restructured the juvenile justice system to meet the needs of today's at-risk youth with programs that address mental health issues, substance abuse, and provide the support and guidance troubled youths need to get back on a positive track; and

Whereas, Mr. McNamara addressed the problems of a rising crime rate and insufficient jail space by building an 840-bed jail in Hamtramck to house adult misdemeanants and felons serving sentences of less than a year; and

Whereas, He brought compassion and empathy to the families of deceased loved ones by replacing a morgue built in the 1920s with one of the country's finest and highly regarded medical facility; and

Whereas, Mr. McNamara took a neglected parks and recreation system and returned it to its former glory with parklands that are not only beautiful but community-friendly places for all to enjoy; and

Whereas, He helped spur redevelopment in the City of Detroit by working with both public and private entities to build Ford Field and Comerica Park, bringing a new sense of excitement to sporting events in the region; and

Whereas, Mr. McNamara and his wife Lucille grew up in Brightmoor, one of Detroit's poorest neighborhoods and from this humble and impoverished beginning, McNamara set out to make a better life for his family and the community.  As a public leader, he attracted the best and the brightest talent to public service and worked with them to bring innovation and effectiveness into public policies and programs; and

Whereas, Edward H. McNamara has shown strong leadership, tireless dedication and commitment to good government that has earned him our deepest respect and appreciation; now therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body recognize and express our appreciation to Edward H. McNamara for his 40 years of service to the residents of Wayne County and the State of Michigan; and be it further

Resolved, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to Edward H. McNamara as a token of our esteem.