Senate adjourns in memory of Federal Glover, honors Rick Johnson and Art Madrid

The California State Senate paused its business for extended tributes to three public servants, with senators asking the chamber to adjourn in memory or to honor their work.

Senator Grayson led a memorial for Federal Glover, describing him as a longtime Contra Costa County leader who was the first African American elected to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors and who served for more than two decades. Grayson said Glover helped secure over $1,000,000,000 for transportation projects, created a county youth summit and a gang task force, and helped establish the county's office of racial equity and social justice. Colleagues from Contra Costa County joined in remarks noting Glover's regional work on transportation and environmental justice and asked the Senate to adjourn in his memory; members in the gallery included Glover family members, who were acknowledged from the floor.

Senator Ashby recognized Rick Johnson for 46 years of public service, including 15 years as executive director of the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency. Ashby said Johnson previously worked for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and that Johnson helped implement about $4,400,000,000 in flood infrastructure improvements for the region.

Senator Weber Pearson and others paid tribute to Arthur E. "Art" Madrid, who died June 6 at age 90. Senators described Madrid as a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and a long-serving mayor of La Mesa, noting his multi-decade public career and leadership in municipal organizations.

Each memorial was introduced on the floor by senators who had worked with or known the honorees; senators requested that the body adjourn in memory (or join in honoring) the named individuals. The memorials occupied a substantive portion of the session and included personal recollections and summaries of the honorees' public accomplishments.