A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of roger bone, former member of the general assembly.

Whereas, Roger Bone was born in 1939 in Nash County to R. Winslow Bone and the late Etna‑Wayne Coppedge Bone; and
Whereas, Roger Bone graduated from North Carolina State University in 1961 with a BS degree in Agricultural Business; and
Whereas, after college, Roger Bone began working for the Flue‑Cured Tobacco Stabilization Corporation, where he was an administrative assistant; and
Whereas, in 1968, Roger Bone became President of an International Harvester tractor and farm‑machinery dealership in Rocky Mount and later served as President of Bone International, a used car dealership; and
Whereas, Roger Bone served one term in the North Carolina General Assembly during the 1979 Session as a member of the House of Representatives, where he represented Nash, Edgecombe, and Wilson counties; and
Whereas, Roger Bone later served as a legislative assistant to Liston Ramsey, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and as a government affairs assistant with the Department of Community Colleges; and
Whereas, in 1987, Roger Bone established Bone and Associates, a governmental relations firm, and successfully lobbied on behalf of many industries, including propane, pork producers, community colleges, used automobiles, tobacco, adult‑care homes, volunteer firefighters, and pharmaceuticals; and
Whereas, Roger Bone was often ranked as one of the top three lobbyists in terms of effectiveness and, in 2008, was recognized as the most influential lobbyist in the State by the North Carolina Center for Public Policy; and
Whereas, Roger Bone was active in his community serving as President of the Jaycees and Rotary Club; and
Whereas, Roger Bone also found time to serve on numerous boards and organizations, including the Nash Community College Foundation Board, North Carolina 4‑H Development Fund Board, North Carolina State University Physical and Math Sciences Foundation Board, North Carolina Environmental Management Commission, and the North Carolina State University College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Board; and
Whereas, Roger Bone received many honors and awards for his good deeds including the Distinguished Service Award given by the Rocky Mount Jaycees and, in 2008, was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the State's highest award for public service; and
Whereas, Roger Bone died on January 25, 2009, at the age of 69; and
Whereas, Roger is survived by his wife of 44 years, Reba Batten Bone; a son, Frederick Bone; two grandsons, Jacob and Caleb Bone; his father, R. Winslow Bone of Nashville; brothers, Royce Bone and Michael Bone; and a sister, Mary Mansfield; Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the life and memory of Roger Bone and expresses the appreciation of this State and its citizens for the service he rendered.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Roger Bone for the loss of a beloved family member.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Roger Bone.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 9th day of March, 2009.

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		 Walter H. Dalton
	 President of the Senate

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		 Joe Hackney
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives