FILE NUMBER........

Whereas, The residents of the State of Nevada were deeply grieved at

the passing of former Nevada Legislator Jean Ford, a visionary leader who

died in her Carson City home on August 26, 1998, after a hard-fought

battle with cancer; and

Whereas, Jean Ford was born on December 28, 1929, in Miami,

Oklahoma, graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in sociology

from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, and later received a

Master’s Degree in public administration from the University of Nevada,

Las Vegas; and

Whereas, Epitomizing the civic contribution a private citizen can

make, Jean Ford chaired the committee that brought about the creation of

the Clark County Library District in 1965, headed the Nevada Air Quality

Conference in 1971 and led the effort that saved Clark County’s Red Rock

Canyon recreation area from development; and

Whereas, After her election in 1972, Jean Ford served 4 years in the

Nevada Assembly where she devoted her efforts to the support of visionary

legislation that banned discrimination in the workplace based on gender,

enhanced state parks, protected the environment, and would have increased

public access to governmental meetings and required lobbyists to file

disclosure statements; and

Whereas, After losing her first bid for a seat in the Nevada Senate,

Jean Ford changed her party affiliation from Republican to Democrat and

won election to the Senate in 1978 where she served until 1982 and was

instrumental in passing bills to expand library services and state parks,

encourage the training of police officers to deal with domestic violence and

protect the rights of parents, children, the elderly and the handicapped; and

Whereas, The love Jean Ford had for Nevada culture, history, flora and

fauna found expression in her personal exploration of this state and the

sharing of her passion and knowledge by organizing and leading bus tours

of rural Nevada and resulted in her appointment by former Governor Bryan

in 1983 to direct the first Nevada Commission on Tourism and Economic

Development; and

Whereas, Her devoted efforts to ensure that Nevadans recognize the

role women have played in the development of this state led Jean Ford to

head the Women’s Studies Program at the University of Nevada, Reno,

where she also developed the Nevada Women’s Archives and co-founded

the Nevada Women’s History Project; and

Whereas, Jean Ford received numerous awards of distinction,

including the Distinguished Service Award from the Nevada State Park

System, the award for Outstanding Citizen from the Business and

Professional Women’s Clubs, the Community Public Service Award from

the American Society for Public Administration and the Woman of Power

Award from the Nevada Women’s Political Caucus, was named President’s

Medalist and Distinguished Nevadan from the University of Nevada, Reno,

and was publicly honored at the state capitol on October 25, 1997, in a

celebration of her life; and

Whereas, Jean Ford is survived by her two daughters, Janet Spelman of

Las Vegas, Nevada, and Carla Oberst of Boston, Massachusetts; now,

therefore, be it

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

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

Legislature extend their deepest sympathy to the family of Jean Ford

including her daughters and her grandchildren; and be it further

Resolved, That the legacy of Jean Ford will live on in the

achievements brought about by her dedication and seemingly inexhaustible

energy that continue to enhance the lives of so many; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate prepare and transmit a copy

of this resolution to her daughters, Janet and Carla.

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