By Goolsby H.R. No. 1413 77R18073 MJS-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, On June 15, 2001, Burl Osborne is retiring as 1-2 publisher of the Dallas Morning News, and this notable event 1-3 provides a fitting opportunity to recognize one of the great 1-4 figures in American journalism; and 1-5 WHEREAS, A "newspaper man through and through," Mr. Osborne 1-6 has worked in the industry for more than four decades; before 1-7 coming to the Dallas Morning News in 1980, he enjoyed a 20-year 1-8 career with the Associated Press (AP) and rose through the ranks to 1-9 become the managing editor of the AP's worldwide news operations; 1-10 and 1-11 WHEREAS, During his outstanding 21-year tenure with the 1-12 Dallas Morning News, Mr. Osborne has held such high-ranking 1-13 positions as executive editor, vice president and executive editor, 1-14 senior vice president and editor, and president and editor before 1-15 becoming publisher in 1991; and 1-16 WHEREAS, This distinguished gentleman was elected to Belo's 1-17 board of directors in 1987 and, since 1995, has served as publisher 1-18 and president of Belo's Publishing Division, which is the parent 1-19 company of the the Dallas Morning News; Mr. Osborne will step down 1-20 as an executive officer for Belo on December 31, 2001, but will 1-21 take on the title of publisher emeritus in June and remain on the 1-22 board of directors until May 2002; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Under his excellent stewardship, the newspaper has 1-24 won six Pulitzer Prizes for journalistic achievement, received many 2-1 other industry accolades for its news coverage, and has more than 2-2 doubled its circulation; according to the 2000 Scarborough Report, 2-3 the Dallas Morning News reaches more consumers daily than any other 2-4 media outlet in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex; and 2-5 WHEREAS, Mr. Osborne has initiated groundbreaking changes at 2-6 the newspaper, including increasing its coverage of sports and 2-7 business news to meet readership demands, overseeing the expansion 2-8 of the newspaper's Washington, D.C., bureau, and establishing 2-9 international bureaus as a way to bolster the newsroom and 2-10 strengthen the overall product; this innovative gentleman also saw 2-11 to it that the Dallas Morning News would be delivered to 2-12 subscribers' homes earlier in the morning; and 2-13 WHEREAS, Actively involved in a number of professional and 2-14 civic organizations, Mr. Osborne currently serves as vice chairman, 2-15 chairman-elect, and member of the executive committee of the 2-16 Associated Press, president of the Southern Newspaper Publishers 2-17 Association, as well as board member of the Newspaper Association 2-18 of America and the Committee to Protect Journalists; he is also the 2-19 director and a member of the executive committee of the World 2-20 Association of Newspapers and serves on the Advisory Committee for 2-21 the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University; and 2-22 WHEREAS, Mr. Osborne has formerly served as member and 2-23 co-chairman of the Pulitzer Prize Board, president of the American 2-24 Society of Newspaper Editors, chairman of the Foundation for 2-25 American Communications, chairman of the American Press Institute, 2-26 president and chairman of the Texas Daily Newspaper Association, 2-27 and in other important positions too numerous to mention; and 3-1 WHEREAS, Such prestigious honors as the National Press 3-2 Foundation George David Beveridge Jr. Award for Editor of the Year 3-3 and the Pat Taggart Texas Newspaper Leader of the Year Award have 3-4 been conferred on him, and his impressive record of service earned 3-5 him Adweek Magazine's Newspaper Executive of the Year award in 3-6 1990; and 3-7 WHEREAS, Mr. Osborne was selected as a fellow of the Society 3-8 of Professional Journalists and presented a Millennium Award from 3-9 the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge in 1999; and 3-10 WHEREAS, Through his invaluable efforts at the Dallas Morning 3-11 News and immeasurable contributions to journalism, he has truly 3-12 made a positive impact on countless lives; Mr. Osborne's hard work, 3-13 commitment, ingenuity, and devotion to his profession will continue 3-14 to contribute to our state for years to come, and it is indeed most 3-15 appropriate to pay tribute to him as he begins a new chapter in his 3-16 life; now, therefore, be it 3-17 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 3-18 Legislature hereby congratulate Burl Osborne on the occasion of his 3-19 retirement as publisher of the Dallas Morning News and extend to 3-20 him sincere best wishes for success and happiness in his future 3-21 endeavors; and, be it further 3-22 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-23 prepared for Mr. Osborne as an expression of high regard by the 3-24 Texas House of Representatives.