R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives takes great pride 1-2 in welcoming Lone Star native and chief executive officer of the 1-3 Motion Picture Association of America Jack Valenti back to Texas, 1-4 for this remarkable gentleman's long and varied career is indeed 1-5 deserving of special legislative recognition; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Born in Houston, Mr. Valenti began work at 16 years 1-7 of age as an office boy with Humble Oil Company; as a pilot in the 1-8 Army Air Corps during World War II, Lieutenant Valenti flew 51 1-9 combat missions as the pilot-commander of a B-25 attack bomber with 1-10 the 12th Air Force in Italy; and 1-11 WHEREAS, His bravery and ability were rewarded with a number 1-12 of honors and awards, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the 1-13 Air Medal with four clusters, and the European Theater Ribbon with 1-14 four battle stars; after returning home, Mr. Valenti graduated from 1-15 the University of Houston and went on to earn a master of business 1-16 administration degree from Harvard University; and 1-17 WHEREAS, In 1952 he co-founded Weekley & Valenti, an 1-18 advertising and political consulting agency through which he would 1-19 meet Lyndon Baines Johnson; in charge of the press during the visit 1-20 of President Kennedy and the vice president to Dallas, he was named 1-21 a special assistant to President Johnson following the tragedy and 1-22 served in that capacity for the next three years; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Mr. Valenti resigned from his White House post in 1-24 1966 to lead the Motion Picture Association of America, and his 2-1 admirable tenure there has been marked with great success and 2-2 achievement even as the entertainment industry has been profoundly 2-3 affected by advances in technology and a changing world landscape; 2-4 and 2-5 WHEREAS, Mr. Valenti is a prolific essayist and author who 2-6 has written for a number of leading magazines and journals and has 2-7 published four successful books as well; he has been awarded a star 2-8 on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the prestigious French Legion 2-9 d'Honneur; and 2-10 WHEREAS, He and his wife, Mary Margaret, have three children, 2-11 Courtenay, John, and Alexandra and live in Washington; though he 2-12 divides his time between home on the East Coast and business 2-13 obligations in Los Angeles, Mr. Valenti has achieved a singularly 2-14 successful balance of the two, and it is a great pleasure to 2-15 welcome this accomplished native son back to Texas; now, therefore, 2-16 be it 2-17 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-18 Legislature hereby commend Jack Valenti on his extraordinary 2-19 contributions to the entertainment industry that have benefited 2-20 citizens the world over and extend to him best wishes for continued 2-21 success and happiness; and, be it further 2-22 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-23 prepared for Mr. Valenti as an expression of high regard by the 2-24 Texas House of Representatives. Wilson _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1378 was adopted by the House on May 31, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House