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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The life of an esteemed state legislator has drawn |
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to a close with the passing of the Honorable Mary Craver Denny on |
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September 14, 2023, at the age of 75; and |
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WHEREAS, The former Mary Craver was born to Lois and Kenneth |
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Craver on July 9, 1948, and she was raised in Houston, where she was |
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a member of the Lamar High School Class of 1966; after attending The |
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University of Texas at Austin, she transferred to the University of |
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North Texas, graduating magna cum laude with degrees in elementary |
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education and mathematics; and |
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WHEREAS, Following her move to Denton, Ms. Denny was invited |
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to serve as the Republican precinct chair for her area, and she |
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chaired the Denton County Republican Party from 1983 until 1991; |
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the next year, she was elected to the Texas House of Representatives |
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for District 63, and she went on to serve her constituents for seven |
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terms, from 1993 to 2007; during her tenure, she was treasurer of |
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the House Republican Legislative Caucus, and she sat on numerous |
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committees, including those on elections, criminal jurisprudence, |
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financial institutions, agriculture and wildlife management, and |
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health and human services block grants; she further distinguished |
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herself as a board member for the Texas Conservative Coalition and |
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the Lone Star Leadership Foundation; and |
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WHEREAS, Through the years, Ms. Denny garnered a number of |
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accolades, including the Outstanding Texas Legislator Award, the |
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Common Cause Star of Service Award, and three Texas Eagle Forum |
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Freedom and Family Awards for her conservative voting record on |
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social and economic issues; she was also a four-time recipient of |
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both the Texas Ten Award and the Leader of Excellence Award from the |
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Free Enterprise PAC; civically engaged, she was appointed to the |
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University of North Texas Board of Regents, and she served on the |
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UNT President's Council and the UNT Foundation Board; she was |
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highly regarded for her work as a philanthropist and a community |
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volunteer, and she contributed her time and expertise to such |
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organizations as the Denton Benefit League, the United Way of |
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Denton County, and the City Federation of Women's Clubs; in |
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addition, she was involved with the Greater Denton Arts Council and |
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the Gaylord-Hughes Foundation; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Denny cherished time spent with her family, |
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which included her son, Bryan Denny, and his fiancée, Kelly |
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McCarty, her stepdaughter, Wenter Anderson, and her grandchildren, |
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McKenna and Christian Blair; her life was further enriched by her |
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wide circle of friends and by the companionship of her two beloved |
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dogs, Bishop and Gidget; and |
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WHEREAS, A stalwart champion of conservative Republican |
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values, Mary Denny served her fellow Texans with dedication, |
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integrity, and tenacity, and she leaves behind a legacy that will |
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long be treasured by those who were fortunate enough to know her; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature, 3rd |
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Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of Mary Craver Denny |
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and extend deepest condolences to all who mourn her passing; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns this |
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day, it do so in memory of the Honorable Mary Craver Denny. |