1-1                                     1
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 545
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
 1-4     recognize Dorothy Masterson of Dallas, Texas, as a 1999 recipient
 1-5     of the SAVVY Award; indeed, Dorothy is an invaluable resource to
 1-6     her community and should be honored accordingly; and
 1-7           WHEREAS, Since 1992, Foley's and The Dallas Morning News
 1-8     have recognized dedicated, grassroots volunteerism in Dallas with
 1-9     the SAVVY Award; recipients of the award are selected because they
1-10     give their time, vision, and commitment to their community without
1-11     remuneration; they are motivated by a desire to serve humanity and
1-12     by the intangible rewards they receive from doing so; and
1-13           WHEREAS, One of this year's three SAVVY winners,
1-14     Dorothy Masterson has worked tirelessly as an advocate for the
1-15     poor and the homeless; over the years, she has dedicated herself
1-16     to charitable work, producing countless noteworthy accomplishments;
1-17     in 1977, Dorothy founded the Dallas Tenants' Association and served
1-18     as its treasurer, president, and chairperson of the board; she was
1-19     chairperson of the Alliance for Integrated Education in 1973 and
1-20     chair of the Human Resources Committee for the League of Women
1-21     Voters from 1969 through 1971; and
1-22           WHEREAS, Dorothy has been part of several state and local
1-23     initiatives to improve housing for the poor, some of which include
1-24     the Dallas Mayor's Low Income Housing Task Force and State Advisory
 2-1     Council to the Public Utilities Commission; her efforts have helped
 2-2     to improve living conditions for Texans in need; at the state level,
 2-3     she was instrumental in gaining repair and deduct laws for tenants,
 2-4     Public Utility Commission regulations for submetered and prorated
 2-5     apartment units, and a disclosure of ownership law for rental units;
 2-6     at the local level, Dorothy helped pass ordinances to improve the
 2-7     prompt delivery and repair of heat and air conditioning systems for
 2-8     tenants of low-income housing; also attributed to Dorothy's hard
 2-9     work, is an ordinance requiring utility companies to notify apartment
2-10     residents when they plan to shut off their complex's utilities; and
2-11           WHEREAS, In addition to her charitable work, Dorothy is a
2-12     wife, mother, grandmother, and teacher; she and her husband,
2-13     Wilmer Dallam Masterson, have three children and eight grandchildren;
2-14     Dorothy graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Southern Methodist University,
2-15     where she also earned a master's degree in history with highest
2-16     honors; for the past 25 years, she has taught history at Richland
2-17     College; and
2-18           WHEREAS, Dorothy has received many honors for her work, some
2-19     of which include the 1996 Award at the Homeless Symposium for service
2-20     to the underprivileged, and the 1997 Virginia MacDonald Award from
2-21     the League of Women Voters; Dorothy's many recognitions bespeak her
2-22     tremendous drive and steadfast purpose; she is a remarkable person
2-23     and an invaluable asset to her community and the State of Texas;
2-24     now, therefore, be it
2-25           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-26     76th Legislature, hereby congratulate Dorothy Masterson on being
 3-1     named a 1999 SAVVY recipient; indeed, her accomplishments on behalf
 3-2     of the poor and homeless make her truly worthy of this award; and,
 3-3     be it further
 3-4           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
 3-5     Mrs. Masterson as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
 3-6                                                                    Cain
 3-7                                  ______________________________________
 3-8                                          President of the Senate
 3-9                                       I hereby certify that the above
3-10                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
3-11                                  on April 6, 1999.
3-12                                  ______________________________________
3-13                                          Secretary of the Senate
3-14                                  ______________________________________
3-15                                           Member, Texas Senate