By: Haywood S.R. No. 1071 1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION 1-2 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to 1-3 recognize Dr. Dennis Cravens of Vernon Regional Junior College who 1-4 was recently selected one of the winners of the Piper Professor 1-5 Award from the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation of San Antonio; and 1-6 WHEREAS, The foundation annually recognizes college faculty 1-7 members who have had a profound and lasting influence on their 1-8 students and the institutions where they teach; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Dr. Cravens attended Abilene Christian College where 1-10 he earned a bachelor of science degree in physics with minors in 1-11 chemistry, mathematics, and biology; and 1-12 WHEREAS, He continued his multidisciplinary studies at Florida 1-13 State University where he earned his doctorate degree in molecular 1-14 biophysics; he has taught at several institutions including the 1-15 University of Mississippi, Northwest Mississippi Junior College, 1-16 Alabama Christian College, and Vernon Regional Junior College where 1-17 he has taught since 1982; and 1-18 WHEREAS, Dr. Cravens considers himself a scientist who also 1-19 loves to teach; his students repeatedly attest to his effectiveness 1-20 as an instructor and to his supportive attitude in dealing with 1-21 them personally; he always teaches to the best of his ability and 1-22 also instructs gifted and talented high school students who 1-23 concurrently enroll in courses at the junior college; and 2-1 WHEREAS, His most recent research has gained him national and 2-2 international recognition for his work in cold fusion; Dr. Cravens 2-3 is considered a pioneer in this field and his research is well 2-4 known; and 2-5 WHEREAS, In addition to his teaching and research, he has 2-6 brought together scientists from Sandia and Los Alamos National 2-7 Laboratories and officials from the American Red Cross to provide 2-8 a small solar-powered water purification system that resulted in 2-9 the construction and delivery of 12 of the units to the people of 2-10 Rwanda within four days of the cholera outbreak in 1994; such a 2-11 humanitarian and scientist is certainly deserving of legislative 2-12 recognition; now, therefore, be it 2-13 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-14 74th Legislature, hereby congratulate Dr. Dennis J. Cravens on 2-15 being selected as one of the 10 Pipers Professors of 1995; and, 2-16 be it further 2-17 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for him 2-18 as an expression of the highest regard of the Texas Senate. 2-19 ______________________________________ 2-20 President of the Senate 2-21 I hereby certify that the above 2-22 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 2-23 on May 16, 1995. 2-24 ______________________________________ 2-25 Secretary of the Senate 3-1 ______________________________________ 3-2 Member, Texas Senate