LRB-3337/2
CGR:wlj:pg
2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE
May 18, 2004 - Introduced by
Committee on Assembly Organization, by request
of Representative Boyle and Senator Jauch. Referred to Committee on Rules.
AJR84,1,1
1Relating to: the life and public service of Byron C. Ostby.
AJR84,1,32
Whereas, Byron C. Ostby was born on August 17, 1924, in Superior, Wisconsin,
3and died on April 28, 2003, in Madison, Wisconsin; and
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Whereas, Mr. Ostby was educated in the Superior public schools; and
AJR84,1,65
Whereas, Mr. Ostby served his country in the U.S. navy during World War II
6from 1943 to 1946; and
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Whereas, Mr. Ostby enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1946
8where he received his B.S. degree in 1949 and his J.D. degree in 1951 from the UW
9Law School; and
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Whereas, he married Helen Barbara Wear on September 8, 1951; and
AJR84,1,1311
Whereas, Mr. Ostby was elected to the Wisconsin assembly in 1948
12representing the first district of Douglas County and served in the 1949 and 1951
13sessions; and
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Whereas, during his tenure in the assembly, he served on the Committee on
15Education and the Committee on Judiciary; and
AJR84,2,3
1Whereas, Mr. Ostby was appointed by Governor Walter Kohler, Jr., to the
2delegation of Wisconsin legislators participating in the 1951 recommissioning of the
3USS Wisconsin (BB-64); and
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Whereas, much of Mr. Ostby's life focused on service to the country of Norway,
5and he was appointed to the Madison-Oslo Sister City Committee in 1964; and
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Whereas, Mr. Ostby was appointed honorary consul of Norway for the state of
7Wisconsin by King Olav V on June 13, 1967, and granted an exequatur by President
8Lyndon Johnson on November 29, 1967; and
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Whereas, he was bestowed the honor of being the 3rd family member awarded
10the Knights Cross First Class, Royal Order of St. Olav in 1976; and
AJR84,2,1311
Whereas, Mr. Ostby, serving as consul of Norway, acted as host to Norwegian
12dignitaries who visited the Madison area, and hosted exchange visits of the
13Madison-Oslo Sister City Program; and
AJR84,2,1514
Whereas, after serving for more than 29 years as consul of Norway, Mr. Ostby
15retired from the position; and
AJR84,2,1916
Whereas, after his tenure in the Wisconsin legislature, Mr. Ostby was
17appointed by Governor Tommy G. Thompson in 1988 to the governor's Commission
18on the Second Recommissioning of the USS Wisconsin and invited by the Navy
19League to participate in the final cruise of this great battleship in 1991; and
AJR84,2,2120
Whereas, Mr. Ostby was executive director for the Wisconsin Railroad
21Association from 1961 until his retirement in 1991; now, therefore, be it
AJR84,2,25
22Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the
23Wisconsin legislature commend the devoted public service that Byron C. Ostby
24contributed to this state and his community, express their sorrow at his death, and
25extend their condolences to his family and friends; and, be it further
AJR84,3,4
1Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide copies of this joint
2resolution to Mr. Ostby's 2 daughters, Laurie Kehler of Half Moon Bay, California,
3and Signe Cook of Woodside, California, and to his son, David Ostby of Madison,
4Wisconsin.