1-1                                     1                                  
 1-2                         SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1055
 1-3                                  In Memory
 1-4                                     of
 1-5                             Curtis Dale Tunnell
 1-6           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the citizens
 1-7     of Austin and the entire State of Texas in mourning the loss of
 1-8     noted archeologist and historian Curtis Dale Tunnell, who died
 1-9     on April 13, 2001, at the age of 67; and
1-10           WHEREAS, A native Texan, Curtis Tunnell was born in Turkey,
1-11     in Hall County; he grew to adulthood in the Panhandle and left
1-12     home to attend West Texas State College in Canyon to study geology,
1-13     paleontology, and anthropology; and
1-14           WHEREAS, At West Texas, Curtis worked in the Panhandle-Plains
1-15     Historical Museum, one of the foremost archeological research
1-16     centers in the state; during that time, he surveyed large areas of
1-17     the Panhandle; and
1-18           WHEREAS, Joining the United States Navy after college, Curtis
1-19     saw service in the Pacific, and after his tour of duty he returned
1-20     to Texas and worked on the Texas Rivers Basin Survey project; he
1-21     worked in the Lake Amistad area along the Rio Grande; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, He attended The University of Texas at Austin, where
 2-2     he received a master's degree in anthropology; he became a field
 2-3     researcher for the University of Illinois and worked on several
 2-4     sites including the famous Cahokia Mounds; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, Curtis returned to Austin as Curator of Anthropology
 2-6     for the Texas Memorial Museum; the Texas Legislature created the
 2-7     position of State Anthropologist in 1965, and the man selected for
 2-8     the new position was Curtis Tunnell; and
 2-9           WHEREAS, The State Archeologist was assigned to the
2-10     Texas State Historical Commission; as the official archeologist,
2-11     he took part in scientific investigations at the Alamo and other
2-12     Spanish Colonial sites in Texas, directed archeological digs
2-13     throughout the state, and traveled the Rio Grande to record the
2-14     archeological resources present in the canyons of Big Bend; and
2-15           WHEREAS, Instrumental in the development of the Antiquities
2-16     Code of Texas, Curtis Tunnell opposed commercial salvagers to save
2-17     the 1554 Spanish shipwreck artifacts for the State of Texas; he
2-18     documented the work of many folk artisans and craftsmen of the
2-19     Texas-Mexico border region; and
2-20           WHEREAS, Becoming the executive director of the Texas
2-21     Historical Commission in 1981, Mr. Tunnell served in that position
2-22     until his retirement in 1999; and
2-23           WHEREAS, Beloved by many people, Mr. Tunnell is especially
 3-1     remembered as a respected scientist, an outstanding archeologist,
 3-2     a tireless worker for "the people's history," and a great friend
 3-3     to preservationists; and
 3-4           WHEREAS, Curtis Tunnell was a man of determination,
 3-5     strength, and integrity whose concern for his fellow citizens
 3-6     was inspirational; although his guidance will be missed, his
 3-7     spirit continues to live in the hearts of those whose lives he
 3-8     touched; now, therefore, be it
 3-9           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
3-10     77th Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to his
3-11     family:  his wife, Nancy; and his brother, Gary Tunnell; and,
3-12     be it further
3-13           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for his
3-14     family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas Senate,
3-15     and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
3-16     Curtis Dale Tunnell.
3-17                                                              Barrientos
3-18                                  ______________________________________
3-19                                         President of the Senate
3-20                                       I hereby certify that the above
3-21                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
3-22                                  on May 15, 2001, by a rising vote.
3-23                                  ______________________________________
3-24                                         Secretary of the Senate
3-25                                  ______________________________________
3-26                                           Member, Texas Senate