REFERENCE TITLE: Charlene Powers-Broadbent; death resolution

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

2021

HR 2010

Introduced by

Representative John

A RESOLUTION

on the death of charlene powers-broadbent.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Charlene Powers-Broadbent, a leader in the Arizona insurance industry for more than thirty years, died on January 17, 2021 in Goodyear, Arizona at the age of sixty-five from COVID-related symptoms.

Charlene was born in Phoenix on December 28, 1955 to Cecil and Anna May Hopkins.  In 1973 she graduated from Buckeye Union High School, where she served as the school's first female student body president. She went on to attend Glendale Community College until the duties of motherhood took precedence.

In 1974, Charlene began her insurance career as an office receptionist in an independent insurance agency in Buckeye.  In just a few short years, she became manager and then owner of the agency.  She honed her skills to become one of the state's largest producers of agricultural insurance.  After merging her agency with another local agency, Charlene's reputation grew as she became known as a very knowledgeable and masterful insurance professional, unique at the time for a female, let alone a single mother.

In 1990, Charlene was sought out by the Leavitt Group, one of the nation's largest independent insurance associations, to join them and form Powers-Leavitt Insurance Agency in Buckeye.  Over the years, she served terms as the association's vice president and director and was active on almost every committee, including serving as chairperson of several.  Charlene was regarded as a trendsetter and champion for women in management in the insurance industry, and she received recognition and accolades both statewide and nationally for her expertise and commitment to her profession.

The community of Buckeye was Charlene's passion and, despite the demands of her career, she helped found or served in leadership capacities with the Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Buckeye Mainstreet Coalition, the Education Foundation for Buckeye Elementary School District, the Buckeye Elks Club, the Buckeye Rotary Club, the Helzapoppin Rodeo Committee and the Buckeye Days Committee, among others.  She received many awards for community service, including Buckeye's Citizen of the Year.  There was no one more supportive of youth or education in her community than Charlene, and for more than twenty-five years, she coordinated fundraising initiatives for local school districts, helping to secure approval for approximately $500 million, eleven new elementary and high school facilities and teacher raises.

In more recent years, Charlene's efforts centered around resurrecting the 25-foot statue of Hobo Joe to a place of prominence.  Few statues of this kind remain, and after several years of Charlene's fundraising efforts, self-donations and hard work, Joe is on a pedestal keeping watch over downtown Buckeye.

A loving and devoted wife and mother, Charlene is survived by her husband, Jay, her three children, Lisa (Brian), Stacy and CJ, and her four grandchildren.  Also surviving are her sister Susan (Jake) and brother Richard.  She will be greatly missed by her family, her many friends and colleagues and her fellow citizens of the Buckeye community.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona:

That the Members of the House of Representatives sincerely regret the passing of Charlene Powers-Broadbent and extend their deepest sympathies to her surviving family members.