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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The retirement of Marise McDermott as president and |
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CEO of the Witte Museum in San Antonio on December 31, 2023, offers |
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a fitting opportunity to reflect on her outstanding record of |
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achievement; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. McDermott assumed leadership of the Witte |
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Museum in 2004 after serving as the inaugural director of its |
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Humanities Center for a decade; under her guidance, the museum has |
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experienced considerable growth in attendance, and its campus |
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underwent a $100 million expansion that contributed to the |
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revitalization of the Broadway Corridor; she also oversaw the |
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renovation to the main building, which has since been the site of |
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numerous science, nature, and culture exhibits and events, |
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including the annual Fiesta coronation gown shows, a major survey |
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of Texas painting and sculpture, and the Black Cowboys: An American |
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Story exhibition; and |
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WHEREAS, Before joining the Witte Museum, Ms. McDermott |
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enjoyed a successful career in journalism, working for the |
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San Angelo Standard-Times, the Austin American-Statesman, and the |
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San Antonio Light; following her retirement, she will become the |
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Witte president emeritus, helping with the leadership transition as |
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well as the museum's 100th anniversary activities; and |
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WHEREAS, Highly respected by her peers, Ms. McDermott has |
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served as chair of the American Alliance of Museums Accreditation |
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Commission; she has further given of her time and talents through |
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leadership roles with the San Antonio Convention and Visitors |
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Bureau, the Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival, and the Alamo |
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Plaza Advisory Committee; over the years, she has received numerous |
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accolades, including the Jack Nokes Outstanding Service Award from |
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the Texas Association of Museums, the Business Person of the Year |
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award from the San Antonio Business Journal, and the Texas Patriot |
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Award from the Daughters of the Republic of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Admired for her commitment to expanding access to |
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the cultural, natural, and historical heritage of Texas, Marise |
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McDermott has made significant contributions to advancing the |
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mission of the Witte Museum, and she may indeed reflect with pride |
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on a career well spent as she embarks on the next exciting chapter |
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of her life; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby congratulate Marise |
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McDermott on her retirement as president and CEO of the Witte Museum |
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and extend to her sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Ms. McDermott as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |