Senate unanimously adopts resolution honoring forensic artist Harvey Pratt

The Oklahoma State Senate on the floor adopted Senate Resolution 34 honoring the late Harvey Pratt for decades of service with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and his national work as a forensic artist.

Senator Weaver introduced the measure and asked that the resolution be placed on the calendar; the clerk then read the resolution praising Pratt’s 45 years of service at the OSBI and his artistic contributions, including designing the National Native American Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. "Harvey Pratt was probably the best in The United States, arguably the best in the world, to reconstruct these people back to where we could almost try to figure out who they were," Weaver said during remarks on the chamber floor.

Weaver described Pratt’s role helping identify victims through forensic illustration and asked the Senate to extend appreciation to Pratt’s family members present in the east gallery. Weaver also said, subject to family approval, that the new OSBI building planned for the Chesapeake Complex would be named for Pratt.

The clerk called for questions and debate; with none raised, the president put the resolution to a voice vote. "All in favor of the resolution, indicate by saying 'aye,'" the presiding officer said. Senators responded in the affirmative and the presiding officer declared, "The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted." No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

Senate Resolution 34 formally recognizes Pratt’s contributions to forensic science and memorial art; the family’s approval was noted as a next step before an official building-name dedication or implementation. The resolution was adopted by voice vote with unanimous consent recorded in the chamber.