By Naishtat H.R. No. 569 74R7836 KMP-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, On April 18, 1995, the Texas House of 1-2 Representatives will join with citizens across the state in paying 1-3 tribute to a true Texas hero, John Henry Faulk; and 1-4 WHEREAS, A noted Southern humorist and storyteller, Mr. Faulk 1-5 is today best remembered as one of our nation's most passionate and 1-6 articulate defenders of American civil liberties; and 1-7 WHEREAS, During the early 1950s, this talented individual was 1-8 a promising young radio and television star who delighted audiences 1-9 with his insightful comic sketches depicting Texas and American 1-10 life, and he quickly became as well known as his illustrious CBS 1-11 contemporaries Walter Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow; and 1-12 WHEREAS, Mr. Faulk's stellar career in broadcasting was cut 1-13 short in 1956, when a self-styled anticommunist organization called 1-14 AWARE, Inc., accused him in its newsletter of harboring subversive 1-15 communist sympathies; these unfounded allegations led to his 1-16 dismissal by CBS in 1957 and to the prospect of being blacklisted 1-17 by the entertainment and journalism industries; and 1-18 WHEREAS, Immediately taking action to save his career and the 1-19 careers of other Americans from such tactics, Mr. Faulk filed a 1-20 libel suit against the organization, alleging a conspiracy to 1-21 defame his character and destroy his livelihood; the ensuing 1-22 litigation, which lasted five years and cost him his broadcasting 1-23 career, became one of the most memorable and important First 1-24 Amendment cases of the 20th century; and 2-1 WHEREAS, The trial ended in 1962 with his vindication and a 2-2 jury award of $3.5 million, at the time the largest libel award in 2-3 United States history; although AWARE, Inc., declared bankruptcy 2-4 and Mr. Faulk collected only a small fraction of the award, the 2-5 successful suit nevertheless ended the practice of blacklisting; 2-6 and 2-7 WHEREAS, In 1963 Mr. Faulk wrote the best-selling book Fear 2-8 on Trial detailing his lengthy legal battles, and in 1975 this book 2-9 served as the basis for a two-hour television movie broadcast by 2-10 CBS, the same network that had fired him 18 years earlier; and 2-11 WHEREAS, This exceptional Texan devoted much of his later 2-12 life to defending the First Amendment principle of free speech, and 2-13 his wit and irrepressible good cheer made him a popular figure on 2-14 stage, at political gatherings, and on talk shows; he also 2-15 continued to produce stories, plays, and commentaries that 2-16 established him as one of the nation's preeminent authors and 2-17 social historians; and 2-18 WHEREAS, The recipient of numerous awards, tributes, and 2-19 accolades, Mr. Faulk was universally revered for both his 2-20 unparalleled talent as a storyteller and for his indomitable 2-21 courage in fighting to protect the rights and liberties guaranteed 2-22 by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which he 2-23 described as America's "jewel in our crown of liberty, written and 2-24 nailed into the basic law of the land"; and 2-25 WHEREAS, On April 18, 1995, the Center for American History 2-26 at The University of Texas at Austin will hold the second biennial 2-27 John Henry Faulk Conference on the First Amendment in honor of this 3-1 truly remarkable gentleman, inviting legal scholars from around the 3-2 nation to discuss civil liberties issues related to the Internet 3-3 and other computer-based communications technologies; and 3-4 WHEREAS, This important conference offers all Texans the 3-5 opportunity to reflect on the contributions that John Henry Faulk 3-6 made to preserving the American way of life; it also offers us the 3-7 chance to look forward to the better future we will all enjoy 3-8 thanks to the courage, conviction, and commitment he demonstrated 3-9 throughout his life; now, therefore, be it 3-10 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 3-11 Legislature hereby designate April 18, 1995, as John Henry Faulk 3-12 Day in Texas in honor of one of our state's most distinguished 3-13 heroes.