Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 11

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 11-Assemblymen Amodei, Anderson, Arberry, Bache, Berman, Braunlin, Buckley, Carpenter, Cegavske, Chowning, Close, Collins, de Braga, Dini, Ernaut, Evans, Freeman, Giunchigliani, Goldwater, Gustavson, Herrera, Hettrick, Hickey, Humke, Koivisto, Krenzer, Lambert, Lee, Manendo, Marvel, Mortenson, Neighbors, Nolan, Ohrenschall, Parks, Perkins, Price, Sandoval, Segerblom, Tiffany, Von Tobel and Williams

FILE NUMBER

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION--Memorializing former Speaker of the Assembly and Mayor of the City of Sparks, Chester S. "Chet" Christensen.

Whereas, On March 2, 1997, the State of Nevada was saddened by the passing of Chester S. Christensen, a man whose service in state government spanned four decades; and
Whereas, Chet Christensen was born in April of 1916 to James and Mary Estella Rawson of Ogden, Utah; and
Whereas, After attending Weber College on a music scholarship, Chet Christensen moved to northern Nevada where he was a member of the Reno Lions Club Quartet, performed as a singer in nightclubs and on radio, worked as a fireman for the Southern Pacific Railroad out of Sparks and was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Engineers, Truckee Lodge 19; and
Whereas, Chet Christensen became Assemblyman Christensen in 1949, serving seven terms, including one term, 1955, as Speaker Pro Tempore and two terms, 1959 and 1961, as Speaker of the Assembly, and retiring on June 12, 1963, to take up the post of Mayor of the City of Sparks, whose residents knew him as the "Singing Mayor"; and
Whereas, During his time as an Assemblyman and Mayor, Chet Christensen's leadership was exemplified through legislation to regulate the gaming industry and to establish Nevada's program for aid to dependent children, as well as the creation of the first office of city manager in the State of Nevada and a wide array of other positive legacies for the residents of this state; and
Whereas, In 1975, friends and colleagues within the Nevada Legislature welcomed back Assemblyman Christensen for an eighth term of service in the Assembly; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate Concurring, That the State of Nevada grieves the passing of Chester S. Christensen and expresses its gratitude for his many years of service; and be it further
Resolved, That the State of Nevada extends its sincere condolence to the Christensen family on the loss of both Chet and Odessa Christensen, who preceded Chet in passing by merely 2 weeks; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit a copy of this resolution to Richard and Jim Christensen, the surviving sons of Chet and Odessa.
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