By Truitt                                               H.R. No. 71
         77R3799 JKB-D                           
                                 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.