FILE NUMBER........

Whereas, The members of the Nevada Legislature were deeply

saddened by the death of long-time Lovelock resident and distinguished

public servant, Raymond L. Knisley, on May 4, 1998; and

Whereas, Ray Knisley was born on August 22, 1898, to parents,

Randolph Hughes and Minnie Waggoner Knisley, in Gentry County,

Missouri, on a farm that years earlier had been surveyed by pioneer legend

Daniel Boone; and

Whereas, At an early age Ray Knisley rode by horseback from the

Midwest to California where he began what would become a 50-year career

starting as a polo pony trainer and working into a land developer for the

family of Nevada pioneer, Lucky Baldwin; and

Whereas, In 1921, Ray Knisley was sent to Lake Tahoe where the

Baldwin family owned property to try to convince early landowners at the

lake to convey portions of their land to the Federal Government in an

attempt to preserve a portion of the pristine Lake Tahoe for future

generations; and

Whereas, Thirty years later in 1951, the Federal Government

purchased 4,700 acres at Lake Tahoe and began creating recreational areas

including Camp Richardson, making Ray Knisley’s dream a reality; and

Whereas, On September 14, 1930, Raymond Knisley and Florence

Richardson were married and from this union that lasted 37 years until

Florence Knisley’s death in 1967, came two daughters, Karen Knisley of

Boulder City and Barbara Knisley Lespade of Elko; and

Whereas, Ray Knisley was elected to the Assembly representing

Pershing County in 1959 and served in five regular sessions (1959, 1960,

1961, 1963 and 1965) and three special sessions (1964, 1965 and 1966);

and

Whereas, As a legislator, Ray Knisley proposed that a new standing

committee was needed to handle state, county and city affairs and the

Assembly Standing Committee on Government Affairs was created with

Ray Knisley as its first chairman; and

Whereas, Ray Knisley also developed the oversight process for the

issuance of general obligation bonds by counties, a process that is still used

today and he worked to improve education including supporting the

development of the Desert Research Institute; and

Whereas, After his service as an Assemblyman, Ray Knisley continued

to be involved in state issues and spent several years offering his wisdom

and insight concerning proposed legislation to many Legislators, including

the late Senator James I. Gibson; and

Whereas, Ray Knisley was appointed to the Lake Tahoe Regional

Planning Agency by former Governor Mike O’Callaghan and the years he

served in this position provided the people of Nevada with outstanding

representation; and

Whereas, In 1967, Raymond Knisley was named a "Distinguished

Nevadan," at the graduation ceremonies of the University of Nevada, Reno;

and

Whereas, Ray Knisley was deeply committed to helping his community

and this state and throughout the years he served as Director of the

American National Cattlemen’s Association, Director and Vice President of

the Nevada Cattle Association, Director and Vice President of the Nevada

Taxpayers’ Association, Director of the Nevada Safety Council, Director of

the Pershing County Chamber of Commerce, Director of the Tahoe-Sierra

Chamber of Commerce and member of the Farm Bureau of Pershing

County, Prospectors Club of Reno, Lovelock Lions Club and President of

the County Farm Bureau; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate

Concurring, That the members of the 70th session of the Nevada

Legislature hereby express their deepest sympathy to the family and friends

of Raymond L. Knisley; and be it further

Resolved, That Ray Knisley will long be remembered for his many

years of distinguished service to the State of Nevada; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit a

copy of this resolution to Ray Knisley’s daughters, Karen Knisley and

Barbara Knisley Lespade.

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