2001 Senate Joint Resolution 38
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: honoring and commending the devoted public service of John T. Benson.
Whereas, John T. Benson will be retiring from the position of state superintendent of public instruction on July 1, 2001; and
Whereas, John T. Benson was born in Mauston, Wisconsin, on November 18, 1937; and
Whereas, he received his high school diploma from Mauston High School in 1955 and continued his education at Luther College, where he received his bachelor of arts degree in elementary education in 1960; and
Whereas, he continued his education by receiving a master of science degree in school administration from the University of Minnesota-Winona in 1963, and he continued his postgraduate studies at both the University of Minnesota-Winona and the University of Wisconsin-Madison; and
Whereas, John T. Benson began his teaching career in 1960 as an elementary teacher in the Harmony, Minnesota, public schools; and
Whereas, after moving to a principal position at Barneveld Public Schools in Wisconsin in 1962, his devotion to public education continued over the next 40 years as a principal, district administrator, assistant state superintendent, and state superintendent of public instruction of Wisconsin; and
Whereas, in April 1993, John T. Benson was first elected state superintendent of public instruction and was reelected to that position in 1997; and
Whereas, one of his greatest accomplishments during his years of service as the state superintendent was his stewardship in the fight to maintain the independence, integrity, and dignity of the Department of Public Instruction and the office of state superintendent; and
Whereas, during these years, not only did he serve children in prekindergarten to grade 12, but he also served children attending higher education institutions throughout Wisconsin through his service on the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin Technical College System Board; and
Whereas, John T. Benson also served at the national level as a member of the Council of Chief State School Officers, the American Association of School Administrators, the Education Commission of the States, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and the Agency for Instructional Technology; and
Whereas, upon his retirement, John T. Benson looks forward to spending additional time with his wife, Debbie; his 3 sons and their wives, Tim and Sheri, Tom and Deb, and James and Jan; and his grandchildren, Jennifer, Julie, Joshua, Mark, Jessa, Kirk, Eric, and Joel; and
Whereas, he also looks forward to spending more time on his farm in the Town of Medina; and
Whereas, John T. Benson has unselfishly dedicated most of his adult life to young people and their education, striving to improve educational opportunities for all Wisconsin students; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature honor and commend John T. Benson for his devoted public service on behalf of the students and the educational system in Wisconsin; and, be it further
Resolved, That the senate chief clerk shall provide copies of this joint resolution to John T. Benson, to his wife, Debbie, and to his sons, Tim, Tom, and James.
