WHEREAS, The death of Governor Robert P. Casey on May 30, 2000 has taken from us a great citizen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a friend to the City of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Governor Casey attended Scranton Preparatory School where he was senior class president, head of the student council, captain of the basketball team, star catcher for the baseball team and class valedictorian from where he went on to graduate from Holy Cross College, where he was elected senior class president, and George Washington University Law School, which he attended on a scholarship; and
WHEREAS, Governor Casey was politically active in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for nearly forty years, serving as a state senator, as auditor general for eight years and as a two-term governor, becoming so well known that his name became a political asset; and
WHEREAS, As Governor, Robert P. Casey signed legislation reforming auto insurance, overhauling the state's workers' compensation system, championing the rights of labor, providing health-care coverage for children in lower-income families, giving tax relief to the state's poorest citizens and for environmental clean-up laws; and
WHEREAS, Governor Casey never feared to express his pro-life convictions thereby showing his faith, moral integrity and political toughness; and
WHEREAS, Governor Casey was a true friend to Philadelphia providing additional funding for Philadelphia schools and the initial grant to fund the Avenue of the Arts; and
WHEREAS, It is fitting and appropriate that the Council of the City of Philadelphia memorialize the life of this great citizen, politician and activist; now, therefore,
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Council respectfully honors the life of the late Governor Robert P. Casey and mourns his passing.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution shall be presented to Governor Casey's widow, Ellen Casey, and to his children, Matthew, Patrick, Erin, Christopher, Robert Jr., Kathleen, Mary Ellen and Margaret.
End