2005 Assembly Joint Resolution 47
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Gaylord Nelson.
Whereas, Gaylord Nelson was born on June 4, 1916, in Clear Lake, Wisconsin; and
Whereas, Gaylord Nelson served his nation honorably during World War II from 1942 to 1946, taking part in the Okinawa campaign; and
Whereas, Gaylord Nelson served for 10 years in the Wisconsin state senate from 1949 to 1959; and
Whereas, Gaylord Nelson served 2 terms as governor of Wisconsin; and
Whereas, Gaylord Nelson represented the state of Wisconsin in the United States Senate for 18 years, from 1962 to 1980; and
Whereas, Gaylord Nelson was responsible for legislation that preserved the Appalachian Trail, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, and the St. Croix Wild and Scenic Riverway; and
Whereas, Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day in 1970, inspiring people around the world to protect and preserve our environment; and
Whereas, Gaylord Nelson has continued to be a national leader on environmental issues through his work on behalf of The Wilderness Society; and
Whereas, Gaylord Nelson has been twice honored by the United Nations, in 1982 with the Environmental Leadership Award, and on Earth Day, 1992, with the Only One Earth Award; and
Whereas, Gaylord Nelson was honored in 1995 with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award, for his instrumental role in founding Earth Day and inspiring future environmental legislation such as the Environmental Protection Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act; and
Whereas, in 2001 the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship program was established in honor of his lifelong commitment to public stewardship and the environment; and
Whereas, Gaylord Nelson never forgot his Polk County roots, always remembering that he was born a small town boy from Clear Lake, subscribing to the Clear Lake newspaper until his death; and
Whereas, Gaylord Nelson passed away on July 3, 2005, at the age of 89, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to impact future generations; and
Whereas, Gaylord Nelson personified the spirit of advocacy based on principle, living up to his attitude on life embodied in his quote, "The ultimate test of a man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard"; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature commemorate the remarkable life of service of Gaylord Nelson to the people of Wisconsin and to the environment; and, be it further
Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide a copy of this joint resolution to Gaylord Nelson's wife, Carrie Lee; his daughter, Tia; and his sons, Gaylord Jr. and Jeffrey.
