Whereas, Donald J. Schneider retired as senate chief clerk on July 4, 2003; and

Whereas, Donald J. Schneider was born in Sheboygan on May 29, 1947; and

Whereas, he served in the United States Air Force from 1966 to 1970; and

Whereas, he began his long career of service to the Wisconsin legislature by serving as assistant assembly sergeant at arms during the 1973 and 1975 sessions; and

Whereas, he was elected senate chief clerk in 1977, beginning an unprecedented tenure of twenty-six and one-half years in that office; and

Whereas, he was active throughout his career in the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries, serving as president in 1983-84, as a member of the Mason's Manual Commission, and as chair and vice chair of numerous committees of that society; and

Whereas, he received the Joseph A. Beck Distinguished Service Award from the society in 1998; and

Whereas, he also distinguished himself in his activities with the National Conference of State Legislatures, serving as staff chair in 1993, and heading the Wisconsin Host Committee for the organization's annual meeting in Milwaukee in 1995; and

Whereas, he has used his knowledge of the legislative process to advance the cause of democracy in countries with little history of representative government, traveling to Central America, Africa, China, and Palestine to offer his assistance, and opening his home to citizens of these countries who came to Wisconsin seeking insights into our form of government; and

Whereas, his greatest achievements have been in the Wisconsin senate, where he was in the forefront of automating the legislative process and increasing efficiency; and

Whereas, his professionalism and even-handedness enabled him to earn the respect of all members, allowing him to serve both Democratic and Republican majorities with aplomb during his long tenure; and

Whereas, his value as a parliamentarian and a source of institutional memory cannot be replaced; and

Whereas, the senate chamber will not be the same without his calm presence and the smooth cadence of his voice; now, therefore, be it