2004 -- S 2130

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2004

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

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF OUR COLLEAGUE,

REPRESENTATIVE PAUL V. SHERLOCK

     Introduced By: Senators Revens, J Montalbano, McCaffrey, Walaska, and Paiva-Weed

     Date Introduced: January 20, 2004

     Referred To: Senate held on desk

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     WHEREAS, It is with great sadness and regret that we have learned of the passing of

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Representative Sherlock; and

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     WHEREAS, Paul V. Sherlock grew up in Pawtucket the youngest of nine children. He

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never forgot his modest beginnings and always fought hard to help the less fortunate and those in

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need; and

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     WHEREAS, A graduate of St. Raphael Academy, Providence College and Boston

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University, Representative Sherlock served his country for two years in the United States Army.

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Following his service in the Military he began a long and distinguished career in the education

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field and, perhaps motivated by the birth of his son, Timothy, who has Down Syndrome, devoted

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much of his time trying to help those with learning disabilities and special education needs; and

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     WHEREAS, In 1959 Representative Sherlock became the state’s first Director of Special

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Education. Soon thereafter he took a tour of the Ladd School in Exeter and was horrified at the

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treatment of the students at the school. Paul Sherlock was instrumental in the decades long fight

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to close the school; and

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     WHEREAS, Representative Sherlock went on to become a Special Education professor

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at Rhode Island College and was a former President of both the Trudeau Center and the Rhode

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Island Association of Retarded Citizens. Throughout his entire life Paul’s commitment and

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devotion to the cause of helping those with special needs never wavered; and

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     WHEREAS, In 1978 Paul Sherlock was elected to the Rhode Island General Assembly

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from the city of Warwick and was re-elected every two years thereafter. In his 25 years tenure in

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the House of Representatives he became known as the “Dean of the House”. He was a leader on

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special education issues and was known as the “Father of Special Education” due to his tireless

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fighting on behalf of those struggling with developmental disabilities and learning disorders. Paul

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later became Chairman of the House Finance Committee and championed the cause of raising the

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minimum wage and helping working families. More importantly, he served his constituents and

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the people of Rhode Island with honor and integrity, was a person everyone liked and was held in

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the highest esteem by his colleagues and everyone who got to know him. Paul always made sure

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that everyone’s voice was heard during a discussion and debate; and

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     WHEREAS, Representative Sherlock chaired the Special Commission to Study Gaming

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and with the thoroughness of a scholar, scoured data, reports and many hours of testimony to

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bring Rhode Islanders a fair and unbiased opinion on the future of gaming in the state; and

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     WHEREAS, Representative Sherlock was the husband of Ann, father of Kathleen

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Sherlock Maclean, Timothy P. Sherlock, Martin D. Sherlock, Mary E. Sherlock, the late Patrick J.

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Sherlock, brother of Mary Frances Campbell, Martina Higgins, John F. Sherlock, Jr., Angela

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Brousseau, Gerald Sherlock, Henry Sherlock, Helene Mainor, the late Edward Sherlock, and was

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the grandfather of four; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby expresses its deepest condolences to the entire Sherlock family on the passing of our good

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friend and colleague, Representative Paul V. Sherlock; 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 Ann Sherlock.

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