R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, American Airlines has recognized Southlake's Keith 1-2 Shankland with its Spirit of American Award in honor of his bravery 1-3 and composure under pressure; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Each year, American Airlines presents only one pilot 1-5 from among the company's employees with this prestigious award; the 1-6 recipient is a pilot who has gone above and beyond the call of 1-7 duty, and Keith Shankland has clearly demonstrated that he is most 1-8 deserving of this singular distinction; and 1-9 WHEREAS, For the second time in four years, Mr. Shankland, an 1-10 American Airlines pilot for the past 15 years, was faced with a 1-11 potentially deadly situation from which he and his passengers 1-12 emerged unscathed; on June 25, 1999, this veteran pilot was 1-13 beginning a flight from San Diego when the plane's right engine 1-14 exploded, causing the cabin to fill with smoke; thinking quickly, 1-15 he did not attempt to land on the debris-covered runway and instead 1-16 orchestrated an emergency landing at nearby Miramar Naval Air 1-17 Station, circumventing almost certain disaster; and 1-18 WHEREAS, No stranger to an in-flight crisis, Mr. Shankland 1-19 piloted a flight in April 1996 in which he was also called on to 1-20 evade danger; while leaving the Dallas-Fort Worth International 1-21 Airport, his plane immediately encountered tornado-like winds that 1-22 caused the S80 aircraft to roll 90 degrees to the right three times 1-23 within 30 seconds of takeoff, once forcing the plane's wingtips to 1-24 come within 50 feet of the ground; after performing a textbook 2-1 wind-shear escape maneuver, he and his 132 passengers were able to 2-2 continue their flight without incident; and 2-3 WHEREAS, A member of the Southlake City Council, 2-4 Mr. Shankland draws on his experience as a pilot to benefit the 2-5 Southlake Community, and is the city's liaison to the Dallas-Fort 2-6 Worth International Airport, and a former member of the local 2-7 planning and zoning commission; a devoted husband and father as 2-8 well, he is a source of great pride to his wife, Cindy, and their 2-9 three children, Chris, Cassie, and Keith, Jr.; and 2-10 WHEREAS, Each year countless passengers are fortunate to have 2-11 Keith Shankland as their pilot, and it is a privilege to honor him 2-12 for his expertise and professionalism at this time; now, therefore, 2-13 be it 2-14 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-15 Legislature hereby congratulate Keith Shankland for receiving the 2-16 Spirit of American Award and extend to him best wishes for 2-17 continued success and happiness; and, be it further 2-18 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-19 prepared for Mr. Shankland as an expression of high regard by the 2-20 Texas House of Representatives. Truitt _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 71 was adopted by the House on March 29, 2001, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House