By Hunter H.R. No. 1021 77R14136 MMS-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Curtis Dale Tunnell of Austin, a central figure in 1-2 Texas archeology and historic preservation for some 40 years, 1-3 passed away on April 13, 2001, at the age of 67, having achieved 1-4 the status of a much-loved Texas legend; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Born January 24, 1934, in Turkey, Hall County, 1-6 Mr. Tunnell earned an M.A. in anthropology from The University of 1-7 Texas at Austin and spent his early career in Texas, Illinois, 1-8 Kansas, and Arizona; in 1965 he became the first person appointed 1-9 to the office of state archeologist, a position he held until 1981, 1-10 when he was named director of the Texas Historical Commission 1-11 (THC); he retired from the latter post in 1999, but remained 1-12 involved with the commission in an advisory capacity until his 1-13 death; and 1-14 WHEREAS, His role in the development of Texas archeology has 1-15 been enormous; he was instrumental in the creation of the state's 1-16 Antiquities Code, which protects historic resources on state land, 1-17 including shipwrecks within the state's offshore jurisdiction, and 1-18 was an active member of the Texas Antiquities Committee, which was 1-19 established by the code to oversee such resources; moreover, by 1-20 encouraging and funding archeological studies at numerous early 1-21 historic sites, he helped expand the focus of this discipline to 1-22 include historic as well as prehistoric remains; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Mr. Tunnell's field work ranged across the state; he 1-24 explored the vast reaches of the Texas Panhandle, the canyons of 2-1 the Big Bend, and the area of Lake Amistad; he worked at the Alamo 2-2 and at other locations important in Spanish colonial history, and 2-3 at Washington-on-the-Brazos, he directed the first major excavation 2-4 of a 19th-century Texas site; and 2-5 WHEREAS, Over the course of his career, Mr. Tunnell undertook 2-6 significant studies of stone toolmaking, documented the crafts of 2-7 numerous artisans in the Texas-Mexico border region, and taped oral 2-8 history interviews with many early Texas archeologists; he waged a 2-9 battle on behalf of the state to save important shipwreck artifacts 2-10 from private salvagers, and he gave impassioned support to the 2-11 cause of historic preservation; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Multidisciplinary and collaborative by nature, 2-13 Curtis Tunnell valued the diverse endeavors of the THC and sought 2-14 to cooperate with other state agencies in saving and interpreting 2-15 our historic and cultural resources; his huge enjoyment of his work 2-16 and of the people he met was palpable and infectious, and he will 2-17 long be revered for his professional contributions and for his 2-18 humane and genial spirit; now, therefore, be it 2-19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-20 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Curtis Dale Tunnell 2-21 and extend sincere sympathy to his wife, Nancy Tunnell, to his 2-22 brother, Gary Tunnell, and to his other relatives and countless 2-23 friends; and, be it further 2-24 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-25 prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of 2-26 Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Curtis 2-27 Dale Tunnell.