[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 10, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E291-E292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         DOROTHY (DOTTIE) WHAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ED PERLMUTTER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 10, 2020

  Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor 
Dorothy (Dottie) Wham, a great Coloradan, wife, mother and grandmother.
   Dorothy Stonecipher was born January 5, 1925 in Centralia, Ill. She 
died peacefully on October 20, 2019, surrounded by loving family and 
friends. She was married to her husband Bob, her high school 
sweetheart, for 65 years and had three children, Nancy Mitchell and 
husband Rohn, daughter Jeanne Ryan and husband Brent; son Robert S. II 
and his wife, Jamie Shaffer; five grandchildren, numerous nieces, 
nephews and friends. She is also survived by brother Ernest Joseph 
Stonecipher, Jr.

[[Page E292]]

   In 1946, Dottie graduated from MacMurray College in Jacksonville, 
Ill. where she earned a bachelor's degree and a Master of Arts degree 
from the University of Illinois in 1949. After coming to Colorado in 
1950, and then moving to Denver in 1953, Dottie's interest in politics 
was sparked. In 1952, she worked for Dwight Eisenhower's presidential 
campaign collecting contributions, which irritated both her family and 
Bob's family as they were backers of the more conservative Robert Taft 
of Ohio. She then took an interest in immunization issues, which 
brought her to Montrose, Delta and Mesa counties where she helped to 
organize immunization drives. Dottie continued to pursue her interest 
in public health and worked for a federal agency for 10 years. She also 
led the Colorado Civil Rights Commission from 1972 to 1980 and served 
on the boards of several metro area mental health organizations.
   In 1984, Dottie was first elected to the Colorado State House. She 
was appointed to the Colorado State Senate when Sen. Cliff Dodge 
stepped down in November 1987. She won election to that seat the 
following year, and handily won re-election twice more. During Dottie's 
tenure at the legislature she chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee 
from 1989 to 2000. Her legislative focus remained centered on her 
passion for health policy, including mental health issues. Dottie was 
term-limited in 2000.
   She was one of the first state lawmakers to carry legislation 
requiring reporting of HIV and AIDS in Colorado. Dottie's bill, Senate 
Bill 157 in 1990, laid down a marker for how individuals with HIV or 
AIDS should be treated, stating that any such infection should not 
serve as the basis for discrimination or prevention of access to 
services.
   I was privileged to know Dottie for many years and to call her my 
friend. It was an honor to work with her in the Colorado State Senate. 
I admired her focus and effectiveness. She never shied away from a 
tough challenge. She was one of the smartest, toughest, shrewdest and 
kindest people I have ever met, and I appreciated her tireless work 
ethic and service to the people of Colorado. I extend my deepest 
appreciation to Dottie Wham for her dedication to her community and to 
the people of the State of Colorado.