1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 339 1-3 In Memory 1-4 of 1-5 Carole Kneeland 1-6 WHEREAS, The family and many friends of journalist 1-7 Carole Kneeland were greatly saddened by her passing on 1-8 January 26, 1998, and the Texas Senate joins them in mourning 1-9 their loss; and 1-10 WHEREAS, A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of 1-11 Washington, Carole Kneeland was drawn to the profession of 1-12 journalism from a young age, and in 1971 she took her first 1-13 job in the field, as a radio newscaster for Houston's KAUM-FM; 1-14 and 1-15 WHEREAS, In 1974, she joined KPRC-TV as a correspondent, and 1-16 although television journalism was at that time dominated by men, 1-17 she successfully challenged the attitudes of the era by lobbying 1-18 for and eventually receiving "hard news" assignments; and 1-19 WHEREAS, Her gifts as a journalist were increasingly evident 1-20 to her professional peers across the state, and in 1976 she moved 1-21 to Corpus Christi, where she anchored a weekly newsmagazine for 1-22 KEDT-TV and wrote for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times; and 1-23 WHEREAS, In 1978, she became Austin bureau chief for WFAA-TV 1-24 in Dallas, and in 1989 she joined Austin's KVUE-TV as news 2-1 director, becoming the station's vice president of news in 1996; 2-2 and 2-3 WHEREAS, Her innovative initiatives at KVUE included a 2-4 "truth test" for political advertising and new, tougher standards 2-5 for crime reporting, and her championing of rigorous journalistic 2-6 ethics won her widespread recognition from her colleagues in the 2-7 media, including those from the Columbia Journalism Review, 2-8 "Nightline," National Public Radio, the Los Angeles Times, and 2-9 Broadcasting and Cable magazine; and 2-10 WHEREAS, Her outstanding stewardship of KVUE's news 2-11 department was recognized in 1995, when the station was awarded 2-12 the first Associated Press TV Excellence Award, and two years 2-13 later she received a Certificate of Commendation for Lifetime 2-14 Achievement from the Radio & Television News Directors Association 2-15 and was named Broadcaster of the Year by the Texas Association of 2-16 Broadcasters; and 2-17 WHEREAS, Well known as a steadfast advocate of open government, 2-18 she was the recipient of the 1997 James Madison Award from the 2-19 Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, and the Texas Associated 2-20 Press Broadcasters have named in her honor the Carole Kent Kneeland 2-21 Freedom of Information Award, given to those broadcasters who have 2-22 furthered the cause of open access to the workings of government; and 2-23 WHEREAS, Carole Kneeland's untimely death from cancer shocked 2-24 and saddened her many friends and admirers, but her legacy of 2-25 excellence in broadcast journalism continues to inspire her 2-26 colleagues, and in tribute to her lifelong contributions to the 3-1 profession, they have created the Carole Kneeland Project for 3-2 Responsible Television Journalism; and 3-3 WHEREAS, Designed to foster the development of journalists 3-4 dedicated to the same professional principles that its namesake 3-5 embodied, the Carole Kneeland Project will use such means as 3-6 awards, scholarships, and conferences to promote the highest 3-7 standards of news gathering and reporting; and 3-8 WHEREAS, In addition, the Governor's Commission for Women has 3-9 launched an initiative designed to draw attention to women's health 3-10 issues, and a key component of the program is the Carole Kneeland 3-11 Media Awards, which recognize media professionals for outstanding 3-12 reporting on women's health; Carole Kneeland's belief that 3-13 journalists have a duty to provide information that helps people 3-14 improve their lives made health coverage a priority for her, and 3-15 an award named in her honor spotlighting coverage of women's 3-16 health issues is especially fitting; and 3-17 WHEREAS, Although time cannot diminish the tragedy of a rich 3-18 life cut prematurely short, neither can it dim the memory of this 3-19 remarkable individual, and the joy and dedication Carole Kneeland 3-20 brought to her life and work will burn on brightly forever in the 3-21 hearts of all those fortunate enough to have known her; now, 3-22 therefore, be it 3-23 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-24 76th Legislature, hereby honor the memory of Carole Kneeland 3-25 and extend sincere condolences to the members of her family: 3-26 her husband, Dave McNeely; her parents, Sanford and Lorrainne Kent; 4-1 her brother and sister-in-law, Gale and Darsie Kent, and their 4-2 children, Lindsey and Johnathan Kent; her stepdaughters and their 4-3 families: Candace and David McGriffy and their daughter, 4-4 Stella Marie McGriffy, and Michelle and Bob Mueller and their 4-5 children, Katie, Carl, and Jenny Mueller; and, be it further 4-6 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared 4-7 for the members of her family as an expression of deepest sympathy 4-8 from the Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, 4-9 it do so in memory of Carole Kent Kneeland. 4-10 Barrientos 4-11 Armbrister Harris Ogden 4-12 Bernsen Haywood Ratliff 4-13 Bivins Jackson Shapiro 4-14 Brown Lindsay Shapleigh 4-15 Cain Lucio Sibley 4-16 Carona Luna Truan 4-17 Duncan Madla Wentworth 4-18 Ellis Moncrief West 4-19 Fraser Nelson Whitmire 4-20 Gallegos Nixon Zaffirini 4-21 Perry, President of the Senate 4-22 ______________________________________ 4-23 President of the Senate 4-24 I hereby certify that the above 4-25 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 4-26 on March 4, 1999, by a rising vote. 4-27 ______________________________________ 4-28 Secretary of the Senate 4-29 ______________________________________ 4-30 Member, Texas Senate