HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	300
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

HONORING AND COMMENDING GLADYS "GLADY" BURRILL FOR BEING THE OLDEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD TO COMPLETE A MARATHON.

     WHEREAS, Waikiki resident, Gladys "Glady" Burrill, of Prospect, Oregon, was born on November 23, 1918, in La Center, Washington, at a time when women were denied the right to participate in numerous activities that were the exclusive domain of men, including the right to vote; and

     WHEREAS, Gladys "Glady" Burrill, ignored the obstacles that women faced and worked alongside her late husband of sixty nine years, Eugene F. Burrill, to create one of Southern Oregon's largest family-owned lumber companies in the early 1940s; and

     WHEREAS, Gladys "Glady" Burrill is an outstanding community role model who has practiced a healthy lifestyle all of her life, including abstaining from drinking alcohol and smoking and has remained fit and healthy; and

     WHEREAS, Gladys "Glady" Burrill has lived life to the fullest, piloting multi-engine airplanes, hiking through the deserts of Arizona, scaling the summit of Mount Hood in Oregon, and recently renewing her Oregon driver's license; and

     WHEREAS, Gladys "Glady" Burrill first competed in the  Honolulu Marathon in 2004 at the ripe age of eighty-six, power walking the entire 26.2 miles, subsequently repeating this remarkable feat in 2005, 2006, and 2007; and

     WHEREAS, many thought that Gladys "Glady" Burrill's marathoning days were over when she failed to complete the Honolulu marathons in 2008 and 2009; and

     WHEREAS, motivated to prove that she still had the endurance, stamina, and fortitude to complete another marathon, Gladys "Glady" Burrill began the 2010 Honolulu Marathon during the early hours of December 12th; and

     WHEREAS, crossing the finish line at Kapiolani Park nine hours, fifty three minutes, and sixteen seconds after starting her marathon, Gladys "Glady" Burrill valiantly and triumphantly completed the 2010 Honolulu Marathon, putting to rest any doubts about her ability to complete another marathon and exemplifying the "can do" spirit that she has exhibited her entire life; and

     WHEREAS, by completing the 2010 Honolulu Marathon at the age of ninety two, Gladys "Glady" Burrill has earned the distinction of becoming the eldest woman in the world to complete a marathon; and

     WHEREAS, Gladys "Glady" Burrill's world record and remarkable achievement has been recognized by the World Records Academy and by USA Track and Field, and will soon be recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, that on behalf of the people of the State of Hawaii, the Legislature hereby honors, admires, and commends Gladys "Glady" Burrill for being the oldest woman in the world to complete a marathon; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body offers Gladys "Glady" Burrill best wishes and warmest aloha in all of her future endeavors, wherever the course of life may take her, including, should she desire, running in future Honolulu marathons.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Honoring Gladys "Glady" Burrill