Governor Christie Orders Flags Lowered to Half-Staff in Honor of Senator Raymond Bateman

TRENTON — July 1, Governor Chris Christie signed the following Executive Order:
Executive Order No. 212 – Ordering all State buildings to fly flags at half-staff on Sat., July 9, 2016, in recognition of the life and in mourning of the passing of Senator Raymond Bateman.
Senator Bateman began his outstanding career in public service in the United States Army, serving in Japan after World War II. After serving his country in the Army, Senator Bateman was an assistant to State Senator Malcolm S. Forbes, and then Executive Director of the New Jersey Republican State Committee. Senator Bateman then served in the New Jersey General Assembly beginning in 1958, and was subsequently elected to the Senate in 1967. In 1970, Senator Bateman became President of the New Jersey State Senate and, when necessary, served as Acting Governor. During his two decades in the Legislature, Senator Bateman sponsored legislation that has had a profound, positive, and lasting impact on the State, including a landmark 1962 bill that created New Jersey’s community college system.
After leaving the Legislature, Senator Bateman continued to serve New Jersey in various roles, including as chairman of Raritan Valley Community College and as chairman of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority; and most of all, Senator Bateman was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, whose presence will be sorely missed by his family, his many friends and colleagues, and the people of New Jersey overall.
“We extend our deepest condolences today to the family of former State Senator Raymond Bateman on his passing,” said Governor Christie. “He was a lifelong New Jerseyan and a loyal representative of the people. He served our state as Majority Leader in the General Assembly, Senate President, Acting Governor, Chairman of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and as the Republican nominee for Governor in 1977. In all of those roles he exemplified honesty, integrity and dignity. He was the father of New Jersey’s county college system. He was a model public servant and an icon of the New Jersey Republican Party. The state will miss his selfless service and his family will miss their patriarch. He is a great example of a life well lived. Mary Pat and I extend to the Batemans, on behalf of all New Jerseyans who benefitted from Senator Ray Bateman’s service, our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.”