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.