1995 Assembly Joint Resolution 34
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: the life and public service of Reuben La Fave.
Whereas, Reuben R. La Fave was born in the town of Lena in Oconto County on September 27, 1915, and died in Portage on March 12, 1995; and
Whereas, Reuben La Fave graduated from Oconto High School; and
Whereas, Mr. La Fave served in the Coast Guard Reserve during World War II, was a member of the Oconto County Board for 9 years, was a member of many civic and benevolent organizations, was a social worker and realtor and operated a business in Oconto; and
Whereas, he was elected to the assembly in 1950 and served in that house until 1957 and was a member of the senate from 1957 to 1977; and
Whereas, Mr. La Fave's leadership abilities were recognized by his colleagues in the assembly when he was named assistant floor leader, and he also served as chair of the senate transportation committee; and
Whereas, in his position as chair of the Menominee Indian Committee, Mr. La Fave was a strong advocate for the Menominees and other Indian tribes, and he was instrumental in helping the Menominee Indian Tribe greatly improve its infrastructure; and
Whereas, he was a co-chair of the joint survey committee on retirement systems and of the retirement research council, in which positions he mastered the intricacies of retirement law and policy; and
Whereas, he is recognized as one of Wisconsin's great leaders relative to state public pension plans, and many of his initiatives toward providing equitable benefits and the merger and consolidation of public pension plans were continued or completed after his departure; and
Whereas, from his youth Reuben La Fave had a strong love and respect for the outdoors; and
Whereas, at age 13, he was struck with polio and over several years time built up his physical strength by taking long walks on crutches in the woods along the shore of Lake Michigan; and
Whereas, Reuben La Fave was known for his tenacious and effective devotion to conservation; as evidenced by his service as chair of the Sportsmen's Conservation Congress, his being named "Mr. Conservation" in 1960, his receipt of the Milwaukee Sentinel's first annual award for outstanding achievement in conservation in 1953, his receipt of an award for conservation work from the Wisconsin Federation of Women's Clubs, his service as president of the Northeast Conservation Council, his service as a member and as chair of the assembly conservation committee and his service as a member of the senate conservation committee; and
Whereas, conservation and wildlife organizations sought protected status for the mourning dove for over a decade; and
Whereas, in 1971, Reuben La Fave authored the legislation resulting in deleting the mourning dove from the definition of game bird and making it the Wisconsin state symbol of peace; and
Whereas, in 1972 he was honored by nearly 1,000 persons in Marinette at an appreciation dinner for his 25 years of public service; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature salute Reuben La Fave's many decades of effective and devoted public service, in particular his advancement of the cause of conservation, express their sorrow at his death and extend their condolences to his family and friends; and, be it further
Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide copies of this joint resolution to Mr. La Fave's wife, Grace, and to his son, Gary.
