ENROLLED SENATE
RESOLUTION NO. 93	By:	Bingman and Burrage

A Resolution thanking Senator Harry Coates for his service to the Oklahoma State Senate; wishing him the best in his future endeavors; and directing distribution.

WHEREAS, Harry Coates, Jr. was elected to represent the citizens of Senate District 28 in November 2002 and has diligently served the people of Lincoln, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie and Seminole Counties; and

WHEREAS, Harry Coates was born and raised in Seminole County by his parents, Harry Sr. and Cuba Jean, along with his six siblings - Lynda, Lisa, Brian, Jennifer, Laura and Bruce; and

WHEREAS, he has dedicated his Senate career fighting for Oklahoma's children and seniors as well as protecting the rights of families, business owners and minorities; and

WHEREAS, Harry Coates was the first Republican in state history to serve as Vice Chair and then Chair of the Senate Business and Labor Committee before becoming Chair of the Senate Tourism and Wildlife Committee in 2010.  He also served on the Appropriations Committee and Appropriations Subcommittee on Select Agencies as well as the Business and Commerce, and Health and Human Services Committees; and

WHEREAS, he authored legislation protecting seniors by closing a loophole in state law aimed at restricting dangerous criminals from working in nursing homes, assisted living centers or adult day care centers; and

WHEREAS, Senator Coates worked with former Senate Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee in crafting, and then successfully carrying in the Senate, several Workers Compensation bills to help make Oklahoma more attractive for business and workers by reducing costs for employers and helping injured workers; and

WHEREAS, he was the Senate author of the monumental Kelsey Smith-Briggs Child Protection Reform Act to better protect Oklahoma's youth from child abuse as well as the Stand Your Ground law, which broadened the rights of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves; and

WHEREAS, with over 40 years of experience in the construction industry, Senator Coates worked tirelessly to strengthen the industry.  In 2004, he authored the Fair Pay in Construction Act to ensure prompt payments for contractors on public projects; and

WHEREAS, during his legislative career, he received many awards and recognitions including being named Legislator of the Year by the Oklahoma Rifle Association; being inducted into the Child Advocates Hall of Fame; receiving the State Chamber of Oklahoma's Defender of Free Enterprise and Legislative Advocates for Business award; being inducted into the Seminole State College Alumni Hall of Fame; and given the Distinguished Service Award by the State Regents for Higher Education; and

WHEREAS, he is a member of several professional and civic organizations including the National and Oklahoma Rifle Association, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and every Chamber of Commerce in Senate District 28.  He is the past president and a current board member of the Jasmine Moran Children's Museum in Seminole as well as a board member of The Education and Employment Ministry (TEEM) in Oklahoma City; and

WHEREAS, Harry Coates' construction and business expertise, determination and no nonsense attitude will be missed on the Senate floor.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 2ND SESSION OF THE 54TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:

THAT the Oklahoma State Senate thanks Senator Harry Coates for his dedication and service to the State of Oklahoma.

THAT the Oklahoma State Senate wishes Senator Harry Coates the best in his future endeavors.

THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to Senator Harry Coates.

Adopted by the Senate the 15th day of May, 2014.

	
	Presiding Officer of the Senate

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________ day of __________________, 20 _______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________