SR57: SR57 Cook, Mr. David A.; recognize

25 LC 112 2658 Senate Resolution 57 By: Senators Kennedy of the 18th, Gooch of the 51st, Jones II of the 22nd, Anavitarte of the 31st, Robertson of the 29th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Mr. David A. Cook for his service to the Georgia State Senate1 and the State of Georgia as well as congratulating him upon the grand occasion of his2 retirement; and for other purposes.3 WHEREAS, the Office of the Secretary of the Senate was created in 1789 and has proudly4 served the citizens of the State of Georgia, along with the Georgia State Senate, for over 2355 years, with the position being most recently filled by the Honorable David A. Cook; and6 WHEREAS, Mr. Cook is united in love and marriage to Beth Cook and is blessed with two7 remarkable children and two extraordinary grandchildren; and8 WHEREAS, in 1976, Mr. Cook approached Secretary of the Senate Hamilton McWhorter9 Jr. regarding a job in the Senate and was hired as a session assistant, serving as a member of10 the "crew" and learning the workings of the Secretary's Office from the ground up; and11 WHEREAS, upon completion of his law degree in 1982, he served as an aide to the Judiciary12 Committee from 1984 to 1990 under Chairman Nathan Deal; and13 S. R. 57 - 1 - 25 LC 112 2658 WHEREAS, upon then-Senator Deal's election as President Pro Tempore of this body, Mr.14 Cook was asked to join him as his Chief of Staff, serving from 1990 to 1992, during which15 time he helped draft the Georgia General Assembly's ethics rules; and16 WHEREAS, in 1993, he moved to Washington, D.C., reprising his role as Chief of Staff for17 United States Representative Nathan Deal, serving Georgia's nor thernmost counties until18 1995; and19 WHEREAS, from 1995 to 2011, he served as an executive with the Medical Association of20 Georgia; and21 WHEREAS, from 2011 to 2013, he served as the Commissioner of the Georgia Department22 of Community Health; and23 WHEREAS, in 2013, he was selected to serve as the 43rd Secretar y of the Georgia State24 Senate, and he has since upgraded the Senate's electronic voting system, procured the current25 Senate voting board, and helped launch the project to update th e General Assembly's26 Legislative Management System, all while maintaining the operations and good order of the27 Office of the Secretary; and28 WHEREAS, he succeeded in accomplishing this for the past 11 years and has left in place29 a staff who will ensure that the work of the Office of the Secr etary continues at the high30 standard the Senate has come to expect.31 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body32 recognize and commend Mr. David A. Cook for his efficient, effe ctive, unselfish, and33 dedicated service to the Georgia State Senate and the State of Georgia; congratulate him34 S. R. 57 - 2 - 25 LC 112 2658 upon the grand occasion of his retirement; and extend the most sincere best wishes for35 continued health and happiness.36 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed37 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for di stribution to Mr. David A.38 Cook.39 S. R. 57 - 3 -