Assembly Resolution No. 8–Assemblymen Marvel, Anderson, Angle, Arberry, Bache, Beers, Berman, Brower, Brown, Buckley, Carpenter, Cegavske, Chowning, Claborn, Collins, de Braga, Dini, Freeman, Gibbons, Giunchigliani, Goldwater, Gustavson, Hettrick, Humke, Koivisto, Lee, Leslie, Manendo, McClain, Mortenson, Neighbors, Nolan, Oceguera, Ohrenschall, Parks, Parnell, Perkins, Price, Smith, Tiffany, Von Tobel and Williams

 

FILE NUMBER..........

 

Assembly RESOLUTION—Memorializing former Assemblywoman Louise Aloys Smith.

 

   Whereas, The members of the Nevada Assembly were saddened
to learn of the loss of former Assemblywoman Louise Aloys Smith on
May 12, 1999; and

   Whereas, Louise Aloys Smith was a native Nevadan, born in Lovelock

 on July 29, 1917, to Dr. Eugene Kneeland Smith and Kathleen O’Sullivan

 Smith; and

   Whereas, Louise enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps in 1943,

 achieving the rank of sergeant and serving as a recruiter and as a

 rehabilitation counselor in military hospitals until her honorable discharge

 in 1946, and was honored with the World War II Victory Medal, Good

 Conduct Medal and American Campaign Medal; and

   Whereas, Elected in 1949 as Assemblywoman from Pershing County,

 Louise served on eight standing committees, including Veterans Affairs,

 Legislative Functions, Social Welfare, State Library and State Publicity;

 and

   Whereas, Leadership positions at that time were awarded to women

 mainly for ceremonial purposes, however, following her reelection in

 1951, Louise had the honor of being the first woman to be elected as

 Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly by her fellow assemblymen; and

   Whereas, After retiring from Sierra Pacific Power Company following

 30 years of dedicated employment, Louise remained active in many

 organizations in her community, including the Pink Ladies Hospital

 Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary, Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies

 Auxiliary, Lovelock Study Club and Beta Sigma Phi, an international

 women’s social, cultural and service organization; and

   Whereas, Continuing her lifelong love of music, with a magnificent

 soprano voice cultivated through operatic training as a student in the San

 Francisco Bay area, Louise performed at weddings, funerals, and other

 community and church events, as well as serving as a choir director; and

   Whereas, As the co-founder of the Desert Little Theater, Louise acted

 in the capacity of performer and director in more than a decade of

 performances by the amateur theater group; and

   Whereas, Committed to the importance of reading and literacy in her

 community, Louise served as a member on the Board of Trustees of the

 Pershing County Library, volunteered her time with the adult literacy and

 children’s story-telling programs, and was instrumental in obtaining

 funding for a new library building; and

   Whereas, In 1988, Louise Aloys Smith was awarded the Woman of

 the Year Award, given annually in Reno to a Nevada woman with a

 lifetime of community service and achievement; now, therefore, be it

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

members of the Assembly of the 71st session of the Nevada Legislature

 offer their heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Louise Aloys

 Smith; and be it further

   Resolved, That Louise Aloys Smith will long be remembered for her

 dedication to her community and this state; and be it further

   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit a copy of

 this resolution to Louise Aloys Smith’s long-time friend, Leola

 Armstrong.

 

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