BILL NUMBER: SCR 52 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 25, 2011
AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 16, 2011
INTRODUCED BY Senators Vargas and La Malfa
(Coauthor: Assembly Member V. Manuel Pérez)
JUNE 23, 2011
Relative to the Caltrans Highway Maintenance Leadworker Jaime
Obeso Memorial Highway, the Caltrans Leadworker Gary Wayne Smith
Memorial Highway, and the Caltrans Equipment Operator II Richard
Gonzalez Memorial Highway. Interchange.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 52, as amended, Vargas. Caltrans Highway Maintenance
Leadworker Jaime Obeso Memorial Highway, Caltrans Leadworker Gary
Wayne Smith Memorial Highway, and Caltrans Equipment Operator II
Richard Gonzalez Memorial Highway.
Interchange.
This measure would designate a specified portion of State Highway
Route 8 in the City of El Centro as the Caltrans Highway Maintenance
Leadworker Jaime Obeso Memorial Highway and would designate the
Sunbeam Rest Area in Jaime Obeso's honor. The bill would designate a
specified portion of State Highway Route 99, north of the City of
Chico, as the Caltrans Leadworker Gary Wayne Smith Memorial Highway,
and would designate a portion of a specified
interchange between State Highway Route 5 and State
Highway Route 905 in the County of San Diego as the Caltrans
Equipment Operator II Richard Gonzalez Memorial Highway.
Interchange. The measure would request the
Department of Transportation to determine the cost of each of the
appropriate signs showing these special designations and, upon
receiving donations from nonstate sources covering the cost
for of a sign designation, to erect a sign.
Fiscal committee: yes.
WHEREAS, Jaime Garcia Obeso, of the City of Imperial, passed away
on June 7, 2011, when he was struck by an errant motorist while
working on a stretch of State Highway Route 8 near the Sunbeam Rest
Area for the Department of Transportation (Caltrans); and
WHEREAS, Jaime Obeso was born to Gregorio and Magdalena Obeso on
January 25, 1958, in El Centro, California; and
WHEREAS, Jaime Obeso attended Ben Hulse Elementary School
, Frank Wright Junior High School , and Imperial High
School. While at Imperial High School, he excelled in football and
track, holding records in pole vault, and 4x100 relay; and
WHEREAS, Jaime Obeso grew up in the City of Imperial gaining many
friends throughout his life; and
WHEREAS, Jaime Obeso married Maria Elena Sanchez on September 1,
1978, his sweetheart since the 6th grade when they met. Jaime and
Maria Elena were best friends and the loves of each other's lives.
They were happily married 32 years this year; and
WHEREAS, Jaime Obeso worked for H.E. Wiggins and Sons for many
years and later gained employment with Caltrans. He was known as a
hard working employee and he received many awards during his service
with Caltrans. His last promotion was as a Caltrans Highway
Maintenance Leadworker with the El Centro Travelway Crew; and
WHEREAS, Jaime Obeso was well known in the community and was
always there to help his friends and family; and
WHEREAS, Jaime Obeso's hobbies included working on air
conditioners, his new jeep, fishing, finding a deal at the swap meet,
browsing eBay for the latest deals, and spending time with his
grandchildren and family; and
WHEREAS, Jaime Obeso loved his family and grandchildren very much.
He will be remembered for making breakfast for his grandchildren
every Sunday morning and for being quick to aid his friends and
family whenever they needed him; and
WHEREAS, Jaime Obeso had a great sense of humor. He was always
joking and teasing his friends and family; and
WHEREAS, Jaime Obeso was preceded in death by his father, Gregorio
Daniel Obeso; and
WHEREAS, Jaime Obeso is survived by the love of his life of 32
years, Maria Elena Sanchez Obeso of Imperial, CA; daughter, Ida
Obeso; son Jaime Obeso Jr. and his wife, Priscilla Escalanti Obeso;
grandchildren, Gianna Alyssa Navarro, Ricardo "Richie" Antonio
Navarro, Jaime Gregorio Obeso, Nicholas Edward Navarro, Audrina Kyana
Obeso, and to be born in August, Julian Albert Obeso; mother,
Magdalena Obeso; brothers and sisters, David Obeso, Arturo Obeso,
Carmen Obeso-Garcia, Daniel Obeso, and Gloria Obeso-Levy; and
sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and numerous cousins, nieces,
nephews, and loved ones; and
WHEREAS, Even though Jaime Obeso is no longer with us, he will be
watching over us every day and will always be remembered in our
memories and hearts; and
WHEREAS, Gary Wayne Smith began working for Caltrans on May 16,
1978, and spent the majority of his career at the Chico Maintenance
Station; and
WHEREAS, On November 14, 2010, Gary Wayne Smith was struck and
killed by a vehicle while performing traffic control at the scene of
a fatal accident on State Highway Route 99 north of the City of
Chico; and
WHEREAS, Gary Wayne Smith was known as a kind-natured individual
who was never without a smile and who helped many coworkers on the
job; and
WHEREAS, Gary Wayne Smith never hesitated to help or respond to
callouts regardless of the time or day; and
WHEREAS, Gary Wayne Smith had great pride regarding his service to
the State of California; and
WHEREAS, It is appropriate to dedicate a portion of State Highway
Route 99 in honor of Gary Wayne Smith; and
WHEREAS, Caltrans Equipment Operator II Richard Gonzalez was a
dedicated maintenance worker; and
WHEREAS, Richard Gonzalez, while working on a special programs
crew at the connector of State Highway Route 15 and State Highway
Route 94, was struck on the morning of June 20, 2011, and died in the
line of duty at the age of 52 as a result of injuries sustained in
the collision; and
WHEREAS, Richard Gonzalez was an exemplary employee who gained the
respect of supervisors, management, and peers for his devotion to
the values of integrity, commitment, and teamwork; and
WHEREAS, Richard Gonzalez's passion was restoration of classic
cars and serving as a mentor and role model to his family and
friends; and
WHEREAS, Richard Gonzalez, at the time of his death, was survived
by his wife, Ruth, and his two sons, Ron and Erik; and
WHEREAS, It is appropriate to dedicate a portion of State
Highway Route 5 the interchange between State Highway
Route 5 and State Highway Route 905 in the County of San Diego
in honor of Richard Gonzalez because he made the ultimate sacrifice
in his service to the people of the State of California; now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That in honor of the commitment of Jaime Obeso,
who died in the line of duty, the Legislature hereby designates the
one-fourth mile before the Sunbeam Rest Area and the one-fourth mile
after the Sunbeam Rest Area six miles west of El Centro on State
Highway Route 8 as the Caltrans Highway Maintenance Leadworker Jaime
Obeso Memorial Highway; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature also hereby designates the Sunbeam
Rest Area as the Jaime Obeso Sunbeam Rest Area; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature hereby recognizes the contributions
and sacrifice made by Gary Wayne Smith to the people of the State of
California and designates the portion of State Highway Route 99 from
Garner Lane one mile north of its
intersection with Wilson Landing Road to Broyles Road, north of
the City of Chico, as the Caltrans Leadworker Gary Wayne Smith
Memorial Highway; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature hereby recognizes the contributions
and sacrifice made by Robert Gonzalez to the people of the State of
California and designates the portion of State Highway Route
5 between Dairy Mart Road the interchange between
State Highway Route 5 and State Highway Route 905 in the County
of San Diego as the Caltrans Equipment Operator II Richard Gonzalez
Memorial Highway Interchange ; and be
it further
Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested to
determine the cost of each of the appropriate signs, consistent with
the signing requirements for the state highway system, showing these
special designations and, upon receiving donations from nonstate
sources covering the cost of a sign designation, to erect a sign; and
be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the Department of Transportation and to the authors
for appropriate distribution.