A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of harris blake, former member of the general assembly.

Whereas, Harris Blake was born on November 3, 1929, in Jackson Springs, North Carolina, to Evander Blake and Claudia Parker Blake; and
Whereas, despite becoming an orphan at the age of five, Harris Blake graduated from West End High School in 1948 and attended Elon University; and
Whereas, Harris Blake served in the United States Army during the Korean War and, for his service, earned the Good Conduct Award; and
Whereas, Harris Blake began his career as a clerk for Pinehurst Hardware and Supply Company, and later became the manager, before eventually buying the business and expanding it to three locations; and
Whereas, Harris Blake later ventured into commercial development and established Pinehurst South Realty; and
Whereas, Harris Blake was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as an associate administrator for the Farmers Home Administration within the US Department of Agriculture, and served in that position from 1985 to 1986; and
Whereas, Harris Blake was elected to the North Carolina Senate in 2002, where he served with honor and distinction for five terms; and
Whereas, during his tenure in the Senate, Harris Blake was a member of several committees, including Appropriations/Base Budget, Commerce, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Finance, Health Care, and State and Local Government, and was able to work with members on both sides of the aisle to pass legislation; and
Whereas, Harris Blake was a co‑founder of the Carolina China Council, a nonprofit organization that promotes business, cultural, and education exchanges between North Carolina and China; and
Whereas, Harris Blake worked with the Chinese government to return to Moore County the remains of Lt. Robert Hoyle Upchurch, a Flying Tiger pilot killed in World War II; and
Whereas, Harris Blake was active in his community and was elected or appointed to several boards, including Moore Regional Hospital, Moore Regional Foundation, Moore County Board of Education, Sandhills Community College, Sandhills Area Chamber of Commerce, Pinehurst Lions Club, Sandhills Kiwanis Club, and Moore County Historical Society; and
Whereas, Harris Blake also served as chair of fund‑raising for Moore Buddies Program and president of NC/SC Elmco; and
Whereas, Harris Blake was awarded the State's highest honor, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, in 2013; and
Whereas, Harris Blake died on June 9, 2014, at the age of 84; and
Whereas, Harris Blake was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Barbara Carter Blake; and
Whereas, Harris Blake is survived by his daughter, Joy; son‑in‑law, Luke Donat; a brother, Waylon Blake; and a sister, Betty McNeill; and
Whereas, Harris Blake will be remembered as a true southern gentleman who treated everyone with respect and dignity and went out of his way to help those in need; Now, therefore,

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

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of Harris Blake and expresses its appreciation for his many accomplishments and his service to the State of North Carolina.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly extends its sympathy to the family of Harris Blake for the loss of a beloved family member.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Harris Blake.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 21st day of June, 2016.

	s/	 Daniel J. Forest
	 President of the Senate

	s/	 Tim Moore
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives