SB 29-NAMING THOMAS B. STEWART LEG. OFFICE BLDG 8:28:58 AM CHAIR LYNN announced the next order of business was SENATE BILL NO. 29, "An Act naming the Capitol Annex the Thomas B. Stewart Legislative Office Building." 8:29:13 AM KRISTEN BRESSETTE, Staff, Senator Kim Elton, Alaska State Legislature, introduced SB 29 on behalf of Senator Elton, prime sponsor. She offered information from the sponsor statement, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: SB 29 would name the Capitol Annex the Thomas B. Stewart Legislative Office Building in honor of Judge Thomas B. Stewart and his countless contributions to the State of Alaska. The Capitol Annex was formerly known as the Scottish Rite Temple and is currently under renovation. Tom Stewart was known and respected throughout Alaska. He served in the territorial House of Representatives and was a driving force behind the Alaska Constitutional Convention and Alaska statehood. Tom then served as a state senator in the first Alaska Legislature. The remainder of his professional career was spent serving as a Superior Court judge. More than the distinguished positions he held, Tom was known and respected for his character, wisdom, and leadership. He led by example and remains an inspiration to Alaskans. As we celebrate Alaska's 50th anniversary of statehood this year, it's an appropriate time to honor Judge Thomas B. Stewart. The estimated completion date of the renovation of Capitol Annex is August 31, 2009. MS. BRESSETTE noted that there are letters of support from former Governors Walter J. Hickel and Steve Cowper [included in the committee packet]. Governor Sarah Palin has also expressed her support for the proposed legislation, she added. 8:31:18 AM CALEB STEWART told the committee that he is the son of the late Judge Thomas B. Stewart. He indicated that five out of six of the children of Judge Stewart support the proposed legislation. In response to Chair Lynn, he shared his memory of his father splitting wood at the age of 74. He relayed that during the time his father ran the territorial committee equivalent to the House State Affairs Standing Committee, he wrote the bill which established the Constitutional Convention. CHAIR LYNN commented that the state is young enough, at 50 years of age, that many of its founders are still alive. 8:33:42 AM MICHELLE SYDEMAN specified that [although she works for the legislature], she is testifying as a private citizen. She spoke of having the privilege of knowing the late Judge Tom Stewart and his many accomplishments. She stated: In the deepest sense of the word, he was a public servant; he devoted his life to serving his country, his state, his community, his family, and his extraordinarily large circle of friends. I doubt anyone has ever compiled a complete list of the boards and commissions on which Tom served or the organizations to which he contributed his time and money or the individuals to whom he lent a hand. Tom was a marvelous, highly principled, and generous person. He was a consummate gentleman. MS. SYDEMAN stated her belief that it is a fitting tribute to this founding father of Alaska to name the capitol annex after him. It will be a small and daily reminder of his great contributions to a state he deeply loved, she concluded. MS. SYDEMAN, in response to Chair Lynn, recollected that Judge Stewart passed away a year ago, December. She noted that he had been writing a book about the constitutional convention, which some have expressed interest in finishing. 8:35:46 AM REPRESENTATIVE WILSON directed attention to an entry [in a compilation of remembrances, included in the committee packet], which was written by a granddaughter of Judge Stewart [Jessica Dillon], and which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: I was stranded one day and could not get hold of anyone to provide me with a ride down-town, including Grandpa. So, I went to the bus stop and got on the next bus. I found Grandpa sitting in the first seat, first row, and was so surprised, because at that time he had three cars. I asked him why he was riding the bus. He responded that he had a lot of houseguests who needed his cars, and that he enjoyed taking the bus. His generosity and unselfishness never ceased to amaze me. Since it was raining, I tried to persuade him to get off the bus at a stop where it would be a short walk to his house, instead of at his usual stop that was several blocks further away. He turned to me, and said, "of course it's raining, we live in a rain forest and we need the rain." And he then continued, "and we need the exercise too." Of course! What was I thinking? So, we had a nice stroll up through Evergreen Cemetery, and although I returned to work soaked from the rain, I felt fortunate to have had this additional time with him before I headed south, and to have gained a few more "little life lessons" from him. 8:37:20 AM KATIE HURLEY testified that she thinks it is wonderful that a building will be named after the late Judge Thomas B. Stewart. She related that two reasons for the success of the Alaska Constitutional Convention were Thomas Stewart's insistence that it be held on the campus of the now University of Alaska - at that time a college - and Bill Egan's election as the chair. 8:39:51 AM CHAIR LYNN closed public testimony. The committee took an at-ease from 8:40:04 AM to 8:40:56 AM. 8:40:58 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to report SB 29 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, SB 29 was reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee.