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A RESOLUTION adjourning the Senate in honor and loving memory of Dorothy 1
Geraldine "Gerry" Biggs Montgomery. 2
WHEREAS, Dorothy Geraldine "Gerry" Biggs Montgomery was a daughter and 3
native of this Commonwealth, having been born in Paducah on March 11, 1938, to the 4
late James and Audelle Biggs; and 5
WHEREAS, Gerry Montgomery graduated salutatorian from Paducah Tilghman 6
High School and after three years, graduated summa cum laude from Georgetown 7
College; and 8
WHEREAS, Gerry Montgomery taught in the Louisville City and Jefferson County 9
public school systems prior to returning to Paducah. She continued to teach part-time 10
from 1979 to 1986 at Paducah Community College while she was co-owner and manager 11
of Biggs Deli-Bakery; and 12
WHEREAS, Gerry Montgomery began a career in public service when she was 13
elected Mayor of Paducah in 1988. She served two terms as Mayor and in 1996 was 14
elected as a City Commissioner, serving as Mayor Pro-Tem until 2000. During her time 15
in city government, she developed public-private partnerships which led to the 16
Riverfront-Downtown revitalization and development of the Information Age Park. Gerry 17
Montgomery began the Paducah Ambassadors program and developed the Paducah Area 18
Community Foundation, which grew to become the Community Foundation of West 19
Kentucky; and 20
WHEREAS, Gerry Montgomery was recognized by many for her numerous 21
achievements for the city of Paducah. Georgetown College presented her with a 22
Distinguished Alumni Award in 1974 and an honorary doctorate in 1991. The Arthritis 23
Foundation selected her to be the recipient of the Aquila Award for outstanding 24
community service in 1992. In 1998, she was elected to the Paducah Tilghman Hall of 25
Fame. In 2003, the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce presented Gerry Montgomery 26
with the Summit Award for service to the community. She was selected for Leadership 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 22 RS BR 1070
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Paducah and Leadership Kentucky, and in 2004 was elected Outstanding Alumnus of 1
Leadership Paducah; and 2
WHEREAS, Gerry Montgomery was a longstanding member of the McCracken 3
County Medical Alliance, serving as its president in 1972, and the Kentucky Medical 4
Association Alliance, serving as its president in 1974. Gerry Montgomery was a member 5
of the Lourdes Hospital Board from 2009 to 2014, serving as chairperson in 2012. She 6
was an active member of Immanuel Baptist Church and taught Sunday school and served 7
as a deacon; and 8
WHEREAS, Gerry Montgomery was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dr. 9
Wally O. Montgomery; brothers, Dr. James Roy Biggs, Jr. and Roger Phillip Biggs; and 10
her brother-in-law Eugene Hughes. She is survived by her children, Sarah Katharine 11
Montgomery, Dr. Evelyn Montgomery Jones (Shawn), Dr. David Olson Montgomery 12
(Mary); grandchildren, Dr. Rebecca Evelyn Jones (Christian), Dr. Shawn Curtis Jones, Jr. 13
(Claire), Benjamin "Caleb" Jones, Amanda Olson Montgomery, and Daniel Romines 14
Montgomery; sister, Sarah Hughes; brother, William Biggs (Susie); and a host of other 15
family, friends, and loved ones who will dearly miss her presence in their lives; 16
NOW, THEREFORE, 17
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 18
Kentucky: 19
Section 1. The Senate expresses its most profound sympathy upon the passing 20
of Dorothy Geraldine "Gerry" Biggs Montgomery, and posthumously thanks her for the 21
many contributions to the City of Paducah and this Commonwealth. 22
Section 2. When the Senate adjourns this day, it does so in honor and loving 23
memory of Dorothy Geraldine "Gerry" Biggs Montgomery. 24
Section 3. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 25
Resolution to Senator Danny Carroll for delivery to the family. 26