Senate Engrossed

 

 

 

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-third Legislature

First Regular Session

2017

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1008

 

 

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

on the death of Rick Lavis.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 


      Rick Lavis, Executive Director of the Arizona Cotton Growers Association, passed away on November 26, 2016 at the age of seventy‑six.

      Growing up in downtown Phoenix, Rick lived within sight of the Arizona State Capitol.  Developing a passion for politics at an early age, Rick started his professional career as an aide to United States Senator Paul Fannin in Washington, D.C.  He later lobbied in the nation's capital for a natural gas company before spending four years as an official in the United States Department of the Interior.

Rick returned to Arizona to work as a lobbyist for the Arizona Cotton Growers Association in 1980, a critical year in Arizona's agricultural history.  During his first year in this position, the Legislature passed the Groundwater Management Act of 1980, a revolutionary deal to regulate the state's groundwater that would dramatically impact the cotton‑growing industry in Arizona.  Despite the challenging nature of this assignment, Rick proved himself to be worthy of the task.  His integrity, competence, fair‑mindedness and commitment to the betterment of this state earned him the well‑deserved respect and admiration of all who had the privilege to work with him.

Though his primary responsibility was to represent the interests of the cotton industry, Rick was an esteemed expert in a wide variety of agricultural issues, including water, the environment and air quality.  A forthright and trusted political figure in this state, he was frequently sought out to lend his expertise, most recently serving on Governor Ducey's Water Augmentation Council.

Devoted to his family, Rick will be greatly missed by his wife, Marti, and their two sons, Ben and Dan.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the Members of the Legislature express sincere regret at the passing of Rick Lavis and extend their sympathies and condolences to his family and many friends.