By: Whitmire, Brown S.R. No. 681
1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION
1-2 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes great pride
1-3 in recognizing George W. S. Abbey, an outstanding citizen of our
1-4 state and the Deputy Director of the Johnson Space Center; and
1-5 WHEREAS, A graduate of the United States Naval Academy,
1-6 George Abbey earned a master of science degree in electrical
1-7 engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in
1-8 1959; as an officer in the United States Air Force he served
1-9 in management positions on the Air Force DYNASOAR Program and
1-10 as a technical liaison officer for the Boeing Company and the
1-11 NASA Langley Research Center on the Lunar Orbiter Program; and
1-12 WHEREAS, A man of unusual talent and expertise, Mr. Abbey
1-13 was assigned to the Johnson Space Center in 1964 and became a
1-14 permanent member of the center's staff in 1967; he served as
1-15 Technical Assistant to the Manager for the Apollo Spacecraft
1-16 Program and later became a Technical Assistant to the Director;
1-17 and
1-18 WHEREAS, In 1976, Mr. Abbey was appointed to the position
1-19 of Director of Flight Operations; his responsibilities in this
1-20 position were far-reaching and included the operational planning
1-21 and management of flight crew and flight control activities for all
1-22 manned space flight missions; and
1-23 WHEREAS, He was appointed Director of Flight Crew Operations
2-1 in 1985 and in 1988 became the Deputy Associate Administrator for
2-2 Space Flight at the NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.; his
2-3 office was responsible for the development and operation of the
2-4 space shuttle, including systems design, flight schedules, program
2-5 enhancements, and payload assignments; he was responsible for the
2-6 NASA expendable launch vehicle and advanced transportation systems;
2-7 and
2-8 WHEREAS, Remarkably skilled and well experienced, George Abbey
2-9 was appointed Deputy for Operations for the Synthesis Group in
2-10 1990; the group was given the task of defining at least two or more
2-11 alternate architectures for returning to the moon and landing on
2-12 Mars; he was named Special Assistant to the Administrator of NASA in
2-13 1992, and in January of 1994, he became Deputy Director of the
2-14 Johnson Space Center; and
2-15 WHEREAS, An extraordinary individual, George Abbey has made
2-16 countless contributions to our country's space programs through
2-17 his exceptional administrative ability, leadership, and expertise;
2-18 and
2-19 WHEREAS, Throughout his highly successful career, Mr. Abbey
2-20 has received numerous awards for his outstanding work, including
2-21 the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 1969, the NASA Distinguished
2-22 Service Medal in 1973 and 1981, and the AAS Space Flight Award in
2-23 1983; he was a member of the Apollo 13 Mission Operations Team that
2-24 was presented the Medal of Freedom by President Nixon in 1970, and
2-25 he received a Federal Business Association Civil Servant of the
3-1 Year Award in 1974; now, therefore, be it
3-2 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
3-3 74th Legislature, hereby commend George Abbey for his superior
3-4 accomplishments and his distinguished career and extend to him best
3-5 wishes for the years ahead; and, be it further
3-6 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for him as
3-7 an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
3-8 ______________________________________
3-9 President of the Senate
3-10 I hereby certify that the above
3-11 Resolution was adopted by the Senate
3-12 on April 11, 1995.
3-13 ______________________________________
3-14 Secretary of the Senate
3-15 ______________________________________
3-16 Member, Texas Senate
3-17 ______________________________________
3-18 Member, Texas Senate
3-19 ______________________________________
3-20 Member, Texas Senate