By Uher H.R. No. 109 76R4620 BE-D 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.