By Seaman                                              H.R. No. 604
         76R9594 MDM-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of Janet Harte on February 23, 1999, at
 1-2     the age of 75, has brought a great loss to the family and many
 1-3     friends of this esteemed woman; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Born on October 13, 1923, in Hanover, New Hampshire,
 1-5     Mrs. Harte graduated from Bennington College in 1944 with a
 1-6     bachelor's degree in literature; and
 1-7           WHEREAS, She and Edward Holmead Harte were united in marriage
 1-8     on February 8, 1947, and the couple enjoyed a close and enduring
 1-9     relationship; together with her husband, Mrs. Harte was blessed
1-10     with four children, Christopher, Elizabeth, William, and Julia, and
1-11     through the years their family was enhanced by the welcome addition
1-12     of nine grandchildren; and
1-13           WHEREAS, Mrs. Harte was a renowned philanthropist and an
1-14     activist for human rights and environmental protections; in
1-15     recognition of her expertise and commitment, Lady Bird Johnson
1-16     appointed her to the Committee for the Wildflowers of Texas, and
1-17     Lieutenant Governor Bill Hobby appointed her to an interim
1-18     committee charged with studying Texas beaches; and
1-19           WHEREAS, One of the founders of Planned Parenthood of South
1-20     Texas, she served as its president and chaired the organization's
1-21     volunteer component; from 1962 to 1965, she was a member of the
1-22     Texas Advisory Committee of the United States Commission on Civil
1-23     Rights, and she was lauded for her courage and leadership in
1-24     helping to prevent interracial violence following the 1968
 2-1     assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, An avid proponent of recycling, she consistently
 2-3     practiced what she encouraged others to do, and she chaired the
 2-4     Corpus Christi Citizens' Committee on Recycling, which she helped
 2-5     to found; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, Mrs. Harte chaired the local chapter of the
 2-7     Federation for American Immigration Reform as well, and she also
 2-8     dedicated her time and resources to organizations focusing on such
 2-9     diverse concerns as education, child care, homelessness, and
2-10     domestic violence; in addition, she was a charter member of the
2-11     League of Women Voters of San Angelo and board member of the
2-12     organization in Corpus Christi, and she served as a trustee of
2-13     Bennington College; and
2-14           WHEREAS, Among her many well-deserved accolades is the naming
2-15     of a Corpus Christi library in her honor, and Mrs. Harte and her
2-16     husband were selected as the 1998 Newsmakers of the Year by the
2-17     Corpus Christi Caller Times for their generosity both locally and
2-18     nationally; and
2-19           WHEREAS, Those who were privileged to share the friendship of
2-20     Janet Harte will long miss her presence, and she will surely be
2-21     remembered with great affection and admiration for many years to
2-22     come; now, therefore, be it
2-23           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-24     Legislature hereby honor the memory of Janet Harte and extend
2-25     sincere sympathy to her husband, Edward Harte, to her children and
2-26     grandchildren, and to her many other friends and relatives; and, be
2-27     it further
 3-1           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
 3-2     prepared for the members of her family and that when the Texas
 3-3     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
 3-4     Janet Harte.