Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 25–Assemblymen de Braga, Anderson, Angle, Arberry, Bache, Beers, Berman, Brower, Brown, Buckley, Carpenter, Cegavske, Chowning, Claborn, Collins, Dini, Freeman, Gibbons, Giunchigliani, Goldwater, Gustavson, Hettrick, Humke, Koivisto, Lee, Leslie, Manendo, Marvel, McClain, Mortenson, Neighbors, Nolan, Oceguera, Ohrenschall, Parks, Parnell, Perkins, Price, Smith, Tiffany, Von Tobel and Williams
Joint Sponsors: Senators McGinness, Amodei, Care, Carlton, Coffin, Jacobsen, James, Mathews, Neal, O’Connell, O’Donnell, Porter, Raggio, Rawson, Rhoads, Schneider, Shaffer, Titus, Townsend, Washington and Wiener
Assembly Concurrent RESOLUTION—Memorializing former Assemblyman and philanthropist Harold E.Fitz.
Whereas, The members of the 71st session of the Nevada Legislature
join the residents of Churchill County and many others in remembering
the life and mourning the loss of former Assemblyman Harold E. Fitz; and
Whereas, Harold E. Fitz was born on August 7, 1902, in DeWitt,
Michigan, to Victor and Lydia Fitz, and was just 2 years of age when his
parents homesteaded in Stillwater, Nevada; and
Whereas, After graduating from Stillwater School, Harold Fitz worked
on his family’s farm and in the Virginia City and Silver City mines before
leaving for Los Angeles to work for the city’s survey division; and
Whereas, Harold Fitz attended night school to become a registered
surveyor and used that knowledge in the years following as a foreman for
the Civilian Conservation Corps, as a surveyor for the Navy at the Naval
Auxiliary Air Station Fallon and the Hawthorne Naval Ammunition
Depot, and in his job with the Andy Drumm Construction Company; and
Whereas, On September 18, 1928, Harold Fitz married Catherine
Amelia Lerch, whom he called “my little Susie,” which was subsequently
shortened to “Suse,” and who would be his loving companion for the next
72 years; and
Whereas, In 1929, Harold and Catherine Fitz purchased a wheat farm
near his family homestead and, in the 1940s, bought several other ranches
in Churchill County; and
Whereas, Harold and Catherine Fitz were generous philanthropists
who created perpetual scholarships at the University of Nevada, Reno, and
Western Nevada Community College and gave to various organizations
and causes including the Shriners Hospital in Sacramento, the Churchill
County Museum, the Alzheimer research program at the University of
Nevada, Reno, and four Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders
Clinics in Northern Nevada; and
Whereas, Always looking for ways to help the hard-working farmers
of the area, Harold Fitz was a leader in the local soil conservation program
and the Stillwater Farm Bureau and was instrumental in the purchase of
large farm equipment from the Federal Government that could be used by
participants of the soil conservation program; and
Whereas, Harold Fitz found many ways to be involved with his
community, which included being a Master Mason for 72 years, a member
of the Scottish Rite Masonic Order for 50 years, a member of the Kerak
Shrine and Chairman of the Democratic Central Committee of Churchill
County; and
Whereas, In 1958, Harold Fitz was appointed to fill a vacancy in the
Assembly for the special session held that year and was elected to serve
another term in 1959, and during these years his expertise was valuable on
several committees including Agriculture and Irrigation, State Libraries,
Livestock, Military and Indian Affairs, and Ways and Means; and
Whereas, A man of many talents and interests, Harold Fitz enjoyed
traveling, reading, fishing and hunting and was a championship marksman
with the Nevada State Rifle Team; and
Whereas, In 1998, Harold and Catherine Fitz were presented with
honorary associate degrees by Western Nevada Community College to
acknowledge their contributions to higher education in Nevada; and
Whereas, Harold Fitz’s keen mind, generous spirit and zest for life
will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him, especially his
wife, Catherine “Suse,” of Fallon, his son, Robert, and daughter, Ruth
Pintar, both of Carson City, his brother, George of Yerington, and his 6
grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate
Concurring, That the Nevada Legislature extends its deepest sympathy
to the family and friends of Harold Fitz; and be it further
Resolved, That the gazebo erected by Harold and Catherine Fitz in
Laura Mills Park in Fallon will be a reminder of the generosity of a man
whose desire to help others found expression in numerous ways
throughout his life; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit
a copy of this resolution to his wife of 72 years, Catherine “Suse” Fitz.
20~~~~~01