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While members of the Washington state Legislature are still busy amending and trying to pass various House and Senate bills, they recently took a break from their regular lawmaking duties to honor late 20th District state Rep. Bill Brumsickle.
A “solemn joint session” with both the House and Senate was held to honor the life and legacy of a number of former state elected officials, including Brumsickle, on Wednesday, March 19, according to a Washington State House Republicans news release.
"The debates, policies and priorities are the legacies that echo through the halls of the State Capitol forever," said state Rep. Peter Abbarno, current 20th District state representative and House Republican Caucus chair. "His legacy as a public servant is one we all aspire to mirror. It was an honor to greet his family and friends at the Capitol and share my own admiration."
Brumsickle served as the 20th District’s representative from 1989 to 1997 and championed policies to help schools, supported economic development, promoted bipartisan collaboration and worked to foster community wellbeing.
Born in the midst of the Great Depression in White Salmon, Brumsickle grew up in Camas and studied at Centralia and Clark junior colleges before beginning a career as an educator, eventually becoming a principal and assistant superintendent in the Centralia School District before becoming a state representative in 1989. He later served on the Centralia College Board of Trustees, along with a number of additional meaningful roles in the community.
He died in Centralia on Nov. 27, 2024, at the age of 89.
"Bill Brumsickle was a true public servant whose passion for education and community service was evident in every piece of legislation he championed," Abbarno said. "His dedication to improving the lives of Washingtonians will not be forgotten."
