State of New Jersey
Executive Order #57

Governor James J. Florio

WHEREAS, Wayne Dumont, Jr., was born in Paterson on June 25, 1914 and was graduated from Montclair Academy, Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania and the University of Pennsylvania Law School; and

WHEREAS, he played minor league baseball for the former St. Louis Browns and later moved to Phillipsburg in 1940 where he began practicing law; and

WHEREAS, he served for six years as commandant of the New Jersey Military Academy at Sea Girt after having volunteered in World War II and enlisted and was later commissioned in the infantry; and

WHEREAS, after 31 years of service he retired from the Army National Guard as a lieutenant colonel in 1974; and

WHEREAS, he first graced our State capitol in 1951 after being elected to represent Warren County as a State Senator; and

WHEREAS, he was re-elected to the Senate for three successive terms in 1955, 1959 and 1963, during which time he served as Senate Majority Leader, Senate President and Acting Governor; and

WHEREAS, after a two-year absence following an unsuccessful gubernatorial bid he returned to the Senate in 1967 where he remained until his retirement in July 1990; and

WHEREAS, he was responsible for sponsoring well over 500 bills during his legislative career including the State's first school aid bill and farmland preservation law; and

WHEREAS, he was respected and widely admired and well known for his independent thinking and courageous stands on issues; and

WHEREAS, he is considered to be our State's first "full-time legislator," working tirelessly for the people of New Jersey on issues ranging from the Environment to Education; and

WHEREAS, his sincere dedication and commitment to public and community service never detracted from his love and devotion to his family and friends; and

WHEREAS, his son, Wayne Hunt Dumont, carried on his father's tradition of distinguished public service by serving as United States Attorney for New Jersey from December 1981 to August 1985, and by presently serving as a member of the State Commission on Investigation; and

WHEREAS, in spite of his significant stature among his colleagues and admirers, he was the embodiment of humility and sincerity, and a friend to all who had the privilege to know him; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and appropriate for the State of New Jersey to mark the passing of Wayne Dumont, Jr., a great statesman and a public servant who always put New Jersey first;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JIM FLORIO, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by the virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

1. The flag of the United States of America and the flag of the State of New Jersey shall be flown at half mast at all State departments, offices, agencies and instrumentalities during appropriate hours beginning on Friday, March 20, 1992, through and including Sunday, March 22, 1992 in recognition and mourning of the passing of a distinguished legislator and leader, Wayne Dumont, Jr.

2. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this
19th day of March in the Year of Our
Lord, one thousand nine hundred and
ninety-two, and of the Independence
of the United States, the two hundred
and sixteenth.

/s/ Jim Florio
GOVERNOR

Attest:

/s/
M. Robert DeCotiis
Chief Counsel to the Governor