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.