Georgia-2011-HR143-Introduced

Recognizing and commending Mr. Charles "Chuck" Ware; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, Mr. Charles "Chuck" Ware has long been recognized for his compassion for the elderly and his dedicated work as an advocate for others; and

WHEREAS, a native of East Chicago, Mr. Ware would chauffeur elderly women around as a young man without accepting compensation; and

WHEREAS, as an 80 year old man, today Mr. Ware continues to help the elderly as an advocate, lobbyist, and board leader; and

WHEREAS, he works on behalf of seniors through affiliations with organizations such as the AARP, the Atlanta Regional Commission, the Aging Division Advisory Board, and the Clayton County Aging Program Advisory Board; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ware's commitment has been recognized by the Georgia Council on Aging as one of 11 people around Georgia making a difference in the lives of seniors, and he was the metro Atlanta area winner of the 2010 Martha Eaves Advocating for Positive Change Award for his service above and beyond the call of duty for seniors; and

WHEREAS, from 1964 to 1987, Mr. Ware worked as a Chicago-area union official with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, advocating for the fair treatment of blue collar workers and negotiating with employers for better working conditions, fairer hours, and higher wages; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ware moved to Clayton County in 1988 and began working for six years as a security guard for Georgia Power, where he raised money for local nonprofit organizations by hosting fundraisers; and

WHEREAS, he became a member of the Clayton County Aging Board in 1994, has served on the advisory boards of the Atlanta Regional Commission's Aging Task Force and CO-AGE, and worked as state coordinator for AARP; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ware began lobbying at the state capitol in the 1990's and over the last two decades he has been instrumental in lobbying for the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program in Clayton County and laws that require new home and apartment builders to make interior doors in homes wide enough for wheelchair access; and

WHEREAS, this community leader was instrumental in securing a grant to restore the historic Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Lovejoy; and

WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the extraordinary accomplishments of this distinguished Georgian be appropriately recognized.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body commend Mr. Charles "Chuck" Ware for his years of dedicated advocacy on behalf of Georgia's seniors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Mr. Charles "Chuck" Ware.