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