GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001
H	1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 663

 
 
Sponsors:	Representatives Goodwin;  Adams, Alexander, Allen, Baddour, Barefoot, Barnhart, Bell, Blue, Blust, Bonner, Boyd-McIntyre, Carpenter, Church, Coates, Cole, Crawford, Creech, Cunningham, Dedmon, Earle, Easterling, Fitch, Fox, Gibson, Hackney, Hall, Harrington, Hensley, Hill, Howard, Insko, Jeffus, Johnson, Lucas, Luebke, McLawhorn, Michaux, Morris, Nesbitt, Oldham, Redwine, Russell, Saunders, Sherrill, Sutton, Tolson, Tucker, Underhill, Wainwright, Walker, Warner, Warren, Weatherly, Weiss, West, Womble, Wright, and Yongue.	
Referred to:	Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.	
March 19, 2001

     
A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING THE MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS OF THE IMPERIAL FOOD PRODUCTS FIRE.

Whereas, on September 3, 1991, a grease fire swept quickly through the Imperial Food Products plant, a chicken processing plant in Hamlet, North Carolina; and
Whereas, blocked and unmarked exits and locked doors and the absence of fire alarms and a sprinkler system resulted in the deaths of 26 people and injuries to 56 others; and
Whereas, the victims of the Imperial Food Products plant fire were:
David Michael Albright
Peggy Jean Anderson
Margaret Teresa Banks
Fred Ernest Barrington
Josephine Barrington
Elizabeth Ann Bellamy
Gail V. Campbell
Rosie Ann Chambers
Josie M. Coulter
John R. Gagnon
Bertha C. Jarrell
Brenda Gail Kelly
Janice Marie Lynch
Michael Morrison
Rose Marie Peele
Mary Alice Quick
Cynthia Marie Ratliff
Martha E. Ratliff
Donald Bruce Rich
Minnie Mae Thompson
Cynthia S. Wall
Mary Lillian Wall
Jeffrey Antonio Webb
Rose Lynette Wilkins; and
Whereas, Patricia Hatcher, who received serious injuries in the fire, died in 2000; and
Whereas, Phillip Ray Dawkins, a Lance Company worker, also died in the fire; and
Whereas, the fire not only caused the loss of life and injury but also resulted in the closing of the Imperial Food Products plant and the loss of 200 jobs; and
Whereas, the fire is the worst industrial disaster in North Carolina history; and
Whereas, stricter workplace safety laws were enacted after the fire to help prevent this type of tragedy from happening again; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly extends its deepest sympathy to the families and friends of the victims of the Imperial Food Products plant fire in Hamlet, North Carolina.
SECTION 2.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to each of the survivors and the families of the victims of the fire, and the Mayor of the City of Hamlet.
SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.