2011 -- H 6002

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LC02344

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2011

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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES ON THE PASSING OF ELMER E.

CORNWELL, JR.

     Introduced By: Representatives Mattiello, Watson, Menard, Naughton, and McCauley

     Date Introduced: March 29, 2011

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, It is with sadness and regret that this House has learned of the passing of

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Elmer E. Cornwell, Jr., a dedicated family man and educator, long-time resident of the Town of

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Little Compton, and the well-respected former Parliamentarian for the Rhode Island House of

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Representatives; and

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     WHEREAS, Born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, to the late Elmer and Eloise Cornwell, Mr.

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Cornwell was valedictorian of the 1942 graduating class at Holyoke High School. After

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completing freshman year at college, he was drafted, and served his country with honor as a Navy

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Seabee until 1946, when he returned to Williams College and attained his Bachelor’s degree,

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Magna Cum Laude; and

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     WHEREAS, Upon graduation, Mr. Cornwell continued his association with Williams

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College as an instructor in Political Science.  In 1949, he entered the graduate program at Harvard

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University, where he received his Master’s degree in 1951 and his Doctor of Philosophy degree in

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Government in 1953; and

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     WHEREAS, Later in 1953, Mr. Cornwell took a position as an instructor at Princeton

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University until 1960, when he became an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Brown

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University.  Soon thereafter, he was promoted to Associate Professor in 1955, full Professor in

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1964, and Chairperson of the Political Science Department in 1962.  He retired in 2005; and 

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     WHEREAS, In 1977, Mr. Cornwell was asked to serve as Parliamentarian for the Rhode

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Island House of Representatives, a position he held for the next seventeen years, until becoming

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an Aide to the Speaker of the House; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Cornwell also served the Town of Little Compton in many capacities. 

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He was the Moderator for the Town of Little Compton for many years, and was a member of and

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served as deacon and moderator at the United Congregational Church of Little Compton; and

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     WHEREAS, An expert on Home Rule Charters, Mr. Cornwell served as consultant to the

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charter revision commissions in many cities and towns.  He also served as Research Director at

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the Constitutional Conventions of 1964 through 1968, and again in 1973, and was an alternate

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delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 1960 and 1964; and

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     WHEREAS, Over the course of his distinguished lifetime, Mr. Cornwell was recognized

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with a plethora of awards and honors. He authored numerous books and articles, winning the

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Frank Luther Mott Prize for his book, Presidential Leadership of Public Opinion. He also

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established the Elmer E. Cornwell, Jr., Fellowship Fund at Brown University in 2008; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Cornwell was the husband of Laura J. “Penny” Walker, the father of

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Joan Bohl, Leila Cornwell, and the late Alison Cornwell, and the step-father of Jamie Greene and

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spouse, Theodore, Dawn Nickerson and spouse, Chris Douris, and Robert Walker and partner,

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Olivia Iglesias.  He was also the grandfather of Courtney Bohl, Melissa Fontaine, Paige Greene,

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and Kyle Greene; and

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     WHEREAS, Admired by everyone who knew him, Elmer Cornwell was a friend and

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mentor to all who sought his guidance, advice, and words of wisdom.  He was a well-respected

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and familiar face on the floor of the House for many years, and he will be greatly missed; now,

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therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby expresses our deepest sympathies on the passing of Elmer

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Cornwell, Jr.; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Laura J. Walker and Family.

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LC02344

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