2007 Senate Joint Resolution 7
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: the life and public service of Jerris Leonard.
Whereas, Jerris Leonard was born on January 17, 1931, in Chicago, Illinois, and died on July 27, 2006, in Bethesda, Maryland; and
Whereas, he was a 1955 graduate of the Marquette University School of Law in Milwaukee; and
Whereas, Mr. Leonard was first elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 1956, serving in the 1957 and 1959 sessions; and
Whereas, he served the Wisconsin Assembly as the Assistant Minority Leader in 1959 and 1960; and
Whereas, Mr. Leonard was subsequently elected to the Wisconsin Senate in 1960, serving two terms during the 1961, 1963, 1965 and 1967 sessions; and
Whereas, he served as the Wisconsin Senate Assistant Majority Leader from 1961 to 1966, and served as the Senate Majority Leader in 1967 and 1968; and
Whereas, during his tenure in the legislature, Mr. Leonard was a member of the Joint Finance Committee, State Building Commission, and Republican Policy Committee; and
Whereas, Mr. Leonard was the Republican Party nominee for the United States Senate in 1968; and
Whereas, he was appointed by President Richard Nixon in 1969 to serve as the assistant United States Attorney General in the Department of Justice; and
Whereas, during his tenure in the Department of Justice, Mr. Leonard headed the Civil Rights Division and aided the desegregation of schools; and
Whereas, he served as an advisor to President George H.W. Bush in 1989; and
Whereas, Mr. Leonard was the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from Marquette University School of Law in 2000; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the
senate, the assembly concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature commend the devoted public service that Jerris Leonard contributed to the country, this state, and his community, express their sorrow at his death, and extend their condolences to his family and friends; and, be it further
Resolved, That the senate chief clerk shall provide a copy of this joint resolution to Mr. Jerris Leonard's wife, Mariellen Leonard of Bethesda, Maryland, and his sons and daughters, Gib Leonard of Bethesda, Maryland, John E. Leonard of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Francis X. Leonard of Gainesville, Virginia, Daniel J. Leonard of Falls Church, Virginia, Mary Alice Leonard Ralston of Clifton, Virginia, and Kathleen Ann Leonard of the District of Columbia.
