2015 Assembly Joint Resolution 41
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: honoring the life and contributions of David Duax.
Whereas, David Duax was born in Eau Claire on February 1, 1944, and passed away on April 17, 2015; and
Whereas, he graduated from Eau Claire Memorial in 1962, where he participated in debate and won third place at the Little Nationals Debate Tournament; and
Whereas, he earned a B.S. in Political Science from UW-Eau Claire, where he also served on the Student Senate and as the chair of the 10th District Young Republicans; and
Whereas, he later attended the University of Wisconsin Law School; and
Whereas, in 1972 David Duax ran for state assembly at the age of 28; and
Whereas, David served on the Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors from 1974-1983, and served for a period of time as chair; and
Whereas, in 1980 he was appointed by Governor Lee Dreyfus to be the first chairman of the Governor's Task Force on County Government Organization and Administration; and
Whereas, David held a number of different positions in the administration of Governor Tommy Thompson between 1987 and 1994, including overseeing the Ethan Allen School for Boys and the Lincoln Hills Detention Center; and
Whereas, he was named the administrator of the State Division of Youth Services in 1989; and
Whereas, he later served as Director of Development and Communication at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire; and
Whereas, he was a member of the Eau Claire City Council since 2005 and had recently been reelected to another term; and
Whereas, in 2008 he authored the city-wide smoking ban ordinance, which when passed made Eau Claire the fifth city in Wisconsin to go smoke-free; and
Whereas, he created and chaired the Joint Committee of Shared Services, which brought together the Eau Claire Area School Board, the county board, and city government; and
Whereas, David was a strong supporter of aviation and the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport, served on the Chippewa Valley Airport Commission, and also served as the President of the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame; and
Whereas, David admired "Fighting Bob" La Follette and emulated his progressive service; and
Whereas, he had a great respect for those he worked with and, at times, disagreed with, bringing a sense a civility to government that others admired; and
Whereas, his thoughtful and unique participation in city council meetings will be fondly remembered by the people who served with him; and
Whereas, David was husband to Kathryn and was stepfather to two children; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the legislature salutes David Duax's public service; and, be it further
Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide a copy of this joint resolution to his wife Kathryn.
