A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of marc basnight, former president pro tempore of the senate.
Whereas, Marc Basnight was born in Manteo, North Carolina, on May 13, 1947, to Saint Clair Basnight and Cora Mae Daniels Basnight; and
Whereas, after graduating from Manteo High School in 1966, Marc Basnight worked for the Basnight Construction Company, a business focused primarily on water, sewer, and related construction; and
Whereas, in 1977, Marc Basnight was appointed to the North Carolina Board of Transportation where he worked diligently to improve roads and bridges in Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Pasquotank, and Perquimans Counties; and
Whereas, Marc Basnight's tenure on the Board of Transportation ended in 1983, but that experience sparked a greater interest and desire to serve the public; and
Whereas, Marc Basnight was elected to the General Assembly as a State Senator in 1984 and served 13 terms until he retired in 2011. He worked hard and became an effective leader, serving as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and, in 1993, began the first of nine consecutive terms as President Pro Tempore of the Senate, making him the longest‑serving legislative leader in North Carolina's history; and
Whereas, some of Senator Basnight's most significant accomplishments include the establishment of the Clean Water Management Trust Fund in 1996 to create a recurring revenue source to provide funds to preserve environmentally sensitive areas and to help communities improve water quality; the passage of a 3.1 billion dollar bond package in 2000 to help public universities and community colleges build and repair critical facilities; the opening of the North Carolina Cancer Hospital to treat cancer patients from all across the State; and the creation of the University Cancer Research Fund to provide millions of dollars annually for cancer research; and
Whereas, Senator Basnight took a genuine interest in the people of North Carolina, especially his neighbors in the northeastern region. He was known to stop during his commute from Manteo to Raleigh at country stores, restaurants, local businesses, and historic sites to talk with residents about their lives and concerns; and
Whereas, Senator Basnight supported historic and cultural arts funding in rural areas, which he believed would improve tourism and enhance economic development; and
Whereas, Senator Basnight thoroughly enjoyed serving the State, but his heart always remained in his beloved hometown of Manteo where, in 1996, along with his family, he opened Basnight's Lone Cedar Café, a restaurant that specializes in fresh and local Outer Banks seafood; and
Whereas, Senator Basnight received numerous awards and honors for his public service, including the Conservation Legislator of the Year Award from the North Carolina Land Trust Council in 2003; Pelican Award for Best Senate Legislator from the North Carolina Coastal Federation in 2003; Razor Walker Award for Contributions to Public Education from the R. Donald Watson School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 2001; Special Leadership Award from the North Carolina State University Alumni Association in 1999; and the William Richardson Davie Award from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1995; and
Whereas, Senator Basnight was recognized nine times as the Most Effective Senator by the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research and received honorary doctorate degrees from Elizabeth City State University in 2002 and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1999; and
Whereas, in 2019, Senator Basnight's dedication and service to the State were recognized and honored when a new 2.8‑mile bridge replacing the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge over Oregon Inlet was named the Marc Basnight Bridge; and
Whereas, Marc Basnight was active as a member of several civic and fraternal organizations, including the Masonic Order, 32nd Degree; Manteo Lions Club; First Flight Society; and Dare County Tourist Bureau, of which he was chair from 1974 to 1976; and
Whereas, Marc Basnight died on December 28, 2020, at his Manteo home, at the age of 73; and
Whereas, Marc Basnight was preceded in death by his parents; beloved wife, Carolyn "Sandy" Tillett Basnight; brother, E.J. Alford; and sister, Sarah Owens; and
Whereas, Marc Basnight is survived by his devoted daughters, Vicki and Caroline; loving grandchildren, Brayden, Marc Crew, and Kennedy; sisters, Dotty Fry, Sally Scarborough, and Della Basnight; and brother, Saint Clair Basnight, Jr.; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
SECTION 1.  The Senate honors the life and memory of Senator Marc Basnight, the longest‑serving legislative leader in North Carolina's history, and expresses the deep gratitude and appreciation of this State and its citizens for the invaluable service he rendered to the people of northeastern North Carolina and the entire State.
SECTION 2.  The Senate extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Senator Marc Basnight for the loss of a beloved family member.
SECTION 3.  The Principal Clerk shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the family of Senator Marc Basnight.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.