H.R. No. 282
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, Joan Lowery Nixon has achieved outstanding success
    1-2  as a writer, delighting young readers nationwide through her novels
    1-3  and also authoring several notable scholarly works; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, Ms. Nixon attended the University of Southern
    1-5  California, where she was graduated with a degree in journalism,
    1-6  and she also attained certification in elementary education from
    1-7  California State College; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, A talented and prolific novelist, Ms. Nixon has
    1-9  published more than 100 books for children and young adults during
   1-10  the course of a more than half-century-long career, maintaining
   1-11  standards of literary excellence to which all in her field can
   1-12  aspire; and
   1-13        WHEREAS, Also a respected nonfiction writer, she has
   1-14  co-authored several science volumes with her husband, geologist
   1-15  Hershell H. Nixon, three of which were awarded certificates as
   1-16  Outstanding Science Books for Children by the National Science
   1-17  Teachers Association and Children's Book Council Joint Committee;
   1-18  and
   1-19        WHEREAS, She has received many other well-deserved accolades
   1-20  during her career, including four Edgar Allan Poe awards from the
   1-21  Mystery Writers of America, the Spur Award from the Western Writers
   1-22  of America, the Texas Institute of Letters award, and
   1-23  children's choice awards from numerous states; and
   1-24        WHEREAS, An active and respected voice in her field,
    2-1  Ms. Nixon is a member of The Authors Guild, Mystery Writers of
    2-2  America, American Crime Writers League, Sisters in Crime, and
    2-3  Western Writers of America and is a charter member and former board
    2-4  member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators;
    2-5  and
    2-6        WHEREAS, The written word is a powerful and versatile medium,
    2-7  and those who fire the imaginations of young readers, encouraging
    2-8  them to explore the pleasures and possibilities of this vital form
    2-9  of communication, have achieved a goal truly worthy of special
   2-10  legislative recognition; now, therefore, be it
   2-11        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-12  Legislature hereby commend Joan Lowery Nixon for her many notable
   2-13  literary achievements and extend to her best wishes for continued
   2-14  success in the future; and, be it further
   2-15        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-16  prepared for Joan Lowery Nixon as an expression of high regard by
   2-17  the Texas House of Representatives.