12-R296

2012 -- S 2994

Enacted 05/22/12

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

PROCLAIMING JUNE 22, 2012, TO BE CAPTAIN RUSSELL P. KNIGHT DAY IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Felag, and Paiva Weed

Date Introduced: May 17, 2012

     WHEREAS, Russell Knight was born into a distinguished Rhode Island family and has

endeavored his whole life to bring further honor to the family’s name. He attended Toll Gate

High School, where he earned varsity letters for soccer and ice hockey, and went on to pursue

postsecondary studies at the University of Rhode Island, where he graduated with a Bachelor of

Science degree in Civil/Ocean Engineering. In his excitement to begin his Naval career, Russell

actually skipped his URI graduation to enter Aviation Officer Candidate School in May, 1982;

and

     WHEREAS, Captain Knight served with extreme dedication and outstanding

accomplishments for three decades as a highly-decorated aviator and leader in the United States

Navy, including hazardous combat missions, service as an experimental test pilot, command of a

Navy fighter squadron, and command of the Naval Air Station in Meridian, Mississippi; and

     WHEREAS, Captain Knight was elected and served for four years as President of the

11,000 member professional naval aviation Tailhook Association; and

     WHEREAS, As Chief of Staff of the Naval War College, Captain Knight provided

dynamic leadership to the world’s foremost military education institution during a period of

unprecedented growth and renewal; and

     WHEREAS, Captain Russell P. Knight is to be commended in the strongest possible

terms for his thirty years of honorable and dedicated service while upholding the ideals of the

citizens he was sworn to protect. His life of exemplary service as a son, husband, father, and

patriot reflect the highest traditions of the Naval Service, the State of Rhode Island, and the

United States of America; now, therefore be it

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

hereby proclaims June 22, 2012, as “Captain Russell P. Knight Day” in the State of Rhode Island.

We join his wife, Mary Lou, and their two children in recognizing the many ways that Captain

Knight’s work has made Rhode Island a better, safer place; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate encourages all the citizens in the State to reflect on

Captain Knight’s accomplishments; and be it further

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

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Captain Russell P. Knight.

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LC02570

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