NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1971 SESSION

 

 

RESOLUTION 50

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 753

 

 

A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF RUFFIN C. GODWIN, A FORMER MEMBER OF THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

 

Whereas, Ruffin C. Godwin, a distinguished Representative in the North Carolina General Assembly sessions of 1965, 1967, and 1969, died in New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina on February 5, 1970; and

Whereas, Ruffin C. Godwin ably served the State of North Carolina and Carteret, Pamlico, and Craven Counties as a Representative in the General Assembly and as a respected member of many committees, particularly as Vice Chairman of the House Committees on Employment Security, State Personnel, and Banks and Banking; and as Chairman of the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs in the 1967 and 1969 Sessions; and

Whereas, Ruffin C. Godwin was born on a farm near Dunn, North Carolina, the son of Wiley and Delia Godwin; was educated in public and private schools and Buies Creek Academy; and moved to New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina in early manhood; and

Whereas, Ruffin C. Godwin, after service in World War I, attained distinction as a member of The American Legion, serving as Post Adjutant and Post Commander of the Donerson Hawkins Post 24 of The American Legion in New Bern, North Carolina, as District Commander, Department Vice Commander, and Department Commander of the North Carolina American Legion and as Vice Chairman of the National Internal Affairs Commission, the National Economic Commission, the National Trophies, Awards and Ceremonials Committee, the National Distinguished Guests Committee, National Executive Committeeman from North Carolina, and National Vice Commander of the American Legion; and

Whereas, Ruffin C. Godwin, developed a keen awareness of the economic problems of his fellow veterans of our Country's wars, was appointed and served the United States Department of Labor as Veterans Employment Representative for North Carolina for 24 years until his retirement in 1963, where he received State and National acclaim for his unique understanding of the employment problems of veterans, his perceptive plans and programs to alleviate these problems, his skill in interpreting these problems and their remedies to all levels of the government and the public, and for his untiring efforts to assure the economic independence of all veterans by providing suitable employment; and

Whereas, the vision and enthusiasm Ruffin C. Godwin displayed in promoting the establishment and development of the Craven County Technical Institute caused his peers to name the library of the Institute the Ruffin C. Godwin Library as an act of appreciation and in his honor; and

Whereas, Ruffin C. Godwin was a man of unusual discernment, a fair, but resolute adversary, and a friend of uncompromising loyalty; and

Whereas, he is survived by his wife, Mary Dixon Godwin, and one son, by a former marriage, Robert C. Godwin; and

Whereas, the General Assembly wishes to express its sorrow at the loss of this outstanding citizen of the State of North Carolina and wishes to express its sympathy to his family;

 

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

 

Section 1.  The General Assembly acknowledges for the State the value of the service rendered to the State and her people and by this action expresses gratitude and appreciation for public service performed by Ruffin C. Godwin, and expresses sympathy to his family.

Sec. 2.  Copies of this resolution shall be sent to the widow and son of Ruffin C. Godwin.

Sec. 3.  This resolution shall become effective upon its ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 22nd day of April, 1971.