R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The family and many friends of journalist Carole
1-2 Kneeland were greatly saddened by her passing on January 26, 1998,
1-3 and we join them in mourning their loss; and
1-4 WHEREAS, A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of
1-5 Washington, Ms. Kneeland was drawn to the profession of journalism
1-6 from a young age, and in 1971 she took her first job in the field,
1-7 as a radio newscaster for Houston's KAUM-FM; and
1-8 WHEREAS, In 1974, she joined KPRC-TV as a correspondent, and
1-9 although television journalism was at that time dominated by men,
1-10 she successfully challenged the attitudes of the era by lobbying
1-11 for and eventually receiving "hard news" assignments; and
1-12 WHEREAS, Her gifts as a journalist were increasingly evident
1-13 to her professional peers across the state, and in 1976 she moved
1-14 to Corpus Christi, where she anchored a weekly newsmagazine for
1-15 KEDT-TV and wrote for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times; and
1-16 WHEREAS, In 1978, she became Austin bureau chief for WFAA-TV
1-17 in Dallas, and in 1989 she joined Austin's KVUE-TV as news
1-18 director, becoming the station's vice president of news in 1996;
1-19 and
1-20 WHEREAS, Her innovative initiatives at KVUE included a "truth
1-21 test" for political advertising and new, tougher standards for
1-22 crime reporting, and her championing of rigorous journalistic
1-23 ethics won her widespread recognition from her colleagues in the
1-24 media, including those from the Columbia Journalism Review,
2-1 Nightline, National Public Radio, the Los Angeles Times, and
2-2 Broadcasting and Cable magazine; and
2-3 WHEREAS, Her outstanding stewardship of KVUE's news
2-4 department was recognized in 1995, when the station was awarded the
2-5 first Associated Press TV Excellence Award, and two years later she
2-6 received a Certificate of Commendation for Lifetime Achievement
2-7 from the Radio & Television News Directors Association and was
2-8 named Broadcaster of the Year by the Texas Association of
2-9 Broadcasters; and
2-10 WHEREAS, Well known as a steadfast advocate of open
2-11 government, she was the recipient of the 1997 James Madison Award
2-12 from the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, and the Texas
2-13 Associated Press Broadcasters have named in her honor the Carole
2-14 Kent Kneeland Freedom of Information Award, given to those
2-15 broadcasters who have furthered the cause of open access to the
2-16 workings of government; and
2-17 WHEREAS, Ms. Kneeland's untimely death from cancer shocked
2-18 and saddened her many friends and admirers, but her legacy of
2-19 excellence in broadcast journalism continues to inspire her
2-20 colleagues, and in tribute to her lifelong contributions to the
2-21 profession, they have created the Carole Kneeland Project for
2-22 Responsible Television Journalism; and
2-23 WHEREAS, Designed to foster the development of journalists
2-24 dedicated to the same professional principles that its namesake
2-25 embodied, the Carole Kneeland Project will use such means as
2-26 awards, scholarships, and conferences to promote the highest
2-27 standards of news gathering and reporting; and
3-1 WHEREAS, In addition, the Governor's Commission for Women has
3-2 launched an initiative designed to draw attention to women's health
3-3 issues, and a key component of the program is the Carole Kneeland
3-4 Media Awards, which recognize media professionals for outstanding
3-5 reporting on women's health; Ms. Kneeland's belief that journalists
3-6 have a duty to provide information that helps people improve their
3-7 lives made health coverage a priority for her, and an award named
3-8 in her honor spotlighting coverage of women's health issues is
3-9 especially fitting; and
3-10 WHEREAS, Although time cannot diminish the tragedy of a rich
3-11 life cut prematurely short, neither can it dim the memory of this
3-12 remarkable individual, and the joy and dedication Carole Kneeland
3-13 brought to her life and work will burn on brightly forever in the
3-14 hearts of all those fortunate enough to have known her; now,
3-15 therefore, be it
3-16 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
3-17 Legislature hereby honor the memory of Carole Kneeland and extend
3-18 sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her husband, Dave
3-19 McNeely; to her parents, Sanford and Lorrainne Kent; to her brother
3-20 and sister-in-law, Gale and Darsie Kent, and their children,
3-21 Lindsey and Johnathan Kent; to her stepdaughters and their
3-22 families: Candace and David McGriffy and their daughter, Stella
3-23 Marie McGriffy, and Michelle and Bob Mueller and their children,
3-24 Katie, Carl, and Jenny Mueller; and, be it further
3-25 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-26 prepared for the members of her family and that when the Texas
3-27 House of Representatives adjourns this day it do so in memory of
4-1 Carole Kent Kneeland.
Uher
Laney Glaze Moreno of El Paso
Alexander Goodman Morrison
Allen Goolsby Mowery
Alvarado Gray Naishtat
Averitt Green Najera
Bailey Greenberg Nixon
Berman Grusendorf Noriega
Bonnen Gutierrez Oliveira
Bosse Haggerty Olivo
Brimer Hamric Palmer
Brown of Kaufman Hardcastle Pickett
Brown of Brazos Hartnett Pitts
Burnam Hawley Puente
Capelo Heflin Ramsay
Carter Hilbert Rangel
Chavez Hilderbran Reyna of Bexar
Chisum Hill Reyna of Dallas
Christian Hinojosa Ritter
Clark Hochberg Sadler
Coleman Hodge Salinas
Cook Homer Seaman
Corte Hope Shields
Counts Howard Siebert
Crabb Hunter Smith
Craddick Hupp Smithee
Crownover Isett Solis of Cameron
Cuellar Janek Solis of Bexar
Culberson Jones of Brazos Solomons
Danburg Jones of Lubbock Staples
Davis of Harris Jones of Dallas Swinford
Davis of Dallas Junell Talton
Delisi Keel Telford
Denny Keffer Thompson
Deshotel King of Parker Tillery
Driver King of Uvalde Truitt
Dukes Krusee Turner of Coleman
Dunnam Kuempel Turner of Harris
Dutton Lengefeld Uher
Edwards Lewis of Tarrant Uresti
Ehrhardt Lewis of Orange Van de Putte
Eiland Longoria Walker
Elkins Luna West
Ellis McCall Williams
Farabee McClendon Wilson
Farrar McReynolds Wise
Flores Madden Wohlgemuth
Gallego Marchant Wolens
Garcia Maxey Woolley
George Merritt Yarbrough
Giddings Moreno of Harris Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 109 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on March 4, 1999.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House