By Hunter H.R. No. 781 77R13059 MMS-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, William P. Wright, Jr., of Abilene, successful 1-2 businessman, eminent civic leader, and accomplished photographer, 1-3 has contributed immeasurably to his community and to the Lone Star 1-4 State; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Mr. Wright's business accomplishments alone would 1-6 inspire respect, for he is the owner and board chairman of Western 1-7 Marketing, Inc., as well as a board member for many other companies 1-8 and the past officer of several petroleum-related organizations, 1-9 serving as president of the Texas Oil Marketers Association; and 1-10 WHEREAS, The city of Abilene has benefited tremendously from 1-11 his service as president and 12-year member of the Abilene 1-12 Independent School District Board, chairman of the Abilene Chamber 1-13 of Commerce, and founding director of the Community Foundation of 1-14 Abilene; and 1-15 WHEREAS, His leadership in educational and cultural arenas 1-16 has been equally remarkable; a trustee of Hardin-Simmons 1-17 University, he has also headed the boards of the Abilene Cultural 1-18 Affairs Council and The Abilene Fine Arts Museum, and he serves as 1-19 curator of photography for the Center for Contemporary Art; and 1-20 WHEREAS, At the state level, he has been appointed by 1-21 Governor George W. Bush to a six-year term on the Texas Commission 1-22 on the Arts, is a member of The University of Texas Press Advisory 1-23 Committee and the executive board of the Texas State Historical 1-24 Association, and is a past president of the Philosophical Society 2-1 of Texas; and 2-2 WHEREAS, President Ronald Reagan appointed Mr. Wright to the 2-3 National Council for the Humanities, where he served for six years; 2-4 he presently serves as a founding director of the National Trust 2-5 for the Humanities and has served as president of the Texas Council 2-6 for the Humanities; and 2-7 WHEREAS, Mr. Wright's passion for outdoor adventure, travel, 2-8 and photography has led to his involvement with Outward Bound and 2-9 to numerous photographic expeditions around the world; the subjects 2-10 of his work have ranged from the sociocultural to natural history, 2-11 and his images have beguiled viewers at a host of group and solo 2-12 shows in the United States and abroad; and 2-13 WHEREAS, A selection of Mr. Wright's photographs will be on 2-14 view in the Capitol Extension from April 23 to April 29, 2001, 2-15 sponsored by the State Preservation Board; the exhibit is a preview 2-16 of a traveling exhibition of his work that the Texas Council for 2-17 the Humanities will present beginning in June; and 2-18 WHEREAS, This multitalented individual has published a number 2-19 of books, including several on the Big Bend of Texas and the Tigua 2-20 and Kickapoo Indians; his most recent work is People's Lives: A 2-21 Photographic Celebration of the Human Spirit, which accompanies his 2-22 exhibition of the same name; and 2-23 WHEREAS, Bill Wright has rendered incalculable service to the 2-24 people of this state through his many years of dedication to civic 2-25 endeavors and through his extensive photographic record of Texas 2-26 and its people; now, therefore, be it 2-27 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 3-1 Legislature hereby honor William P. Wright, Jr., for his myriad 3-2 achievements and extend to him its deep appreciation for his 3-3 contributions to our state; and, be it further 3-4 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-5 prepared for Mr. Wright as an expression of high regard by the 3-6 Texas House of Representatives.