1-1                                     1                                  
 1-2                         SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1234
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pleasure in
 1-4     honoring Vann Kennedy, a most distinguished Texas citizen whose
 1-5     career in journalism has been transcendent; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, A native of Alabama, Vann was born in 1905; he moved
 1-7     to Texas in 1919, and his affiliation with the newspaper business
 1-8     began soon afterwards when he was hired to deliver newspapers; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, Vann's first experience as a journalist came when
1-10     he served as police beat reporter for the San Antonio Express; he
1-11     later moved to Austin to attend The University of Texas; he soon
1-12     found work keeping Austinites abreast of events at the Capitol as
1-13     a writer for the Austin Statesman; and
1-14           WHEREAS, In 1931 Vann made a critical move in his career when
1-15     he traveled to New York to persuade the International News Service
1-16     to open an Austin bureau; his efforts successful, Vann set up a
1-17     small office in the Texas Capitol, hiring a young Walter Cronkite
1-18     to be his assistant; and
1-19           WHEREAS, Journalism not only provided Vann with a fulfilling
1-20     career, it allowed him to meet his wife, Mary Louise Witliff,
1-21     who also worked as a reporter in the Capitol; in 1940, the couple
 2-1     married, and theirs has been a long and successful union; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, During his time in Austin, Vann's talent became
 2-3     apparent to the most influential leaders in Texas; he served on
 2-4     the campaign of Governor James Allred and served as a speech writer
 2-5     for such notable Texans as John Nance Garner, Sam Rayburn, and
 2-6     Lyndon B. Johnson; Vann also served as secretary of the Texas
 2-7     Democratic Party for 10 Democratic conventions; and
 2-8           WHEREAS, World War II brought new opportunities for Vann
 2-9     to distinguish himself; he first served the war effort as public
2-10     relations official for the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, a
2-11     position he had been hand picked for by the organization's leader,
2-12     Oveta Culp Hobby; and
2-13           WHEREAS, As a member of the United States Army, Vann served
2-14     the Defense Department in Alaska and China, managing communications
2-15     lines and broadcasts; he left the army as a full colonel and as
2-16     the recipient of the Battle Star for his efforts in the Salween
2-17     Campaign; he also received the Breast Order of the Yun Hui from
2-18     the Republic of China; and
2-19           WHEREAS, Vann returned home in 1946 and continued his work in
2-20     the field of journalism; he and his wife moved to Corpus Christi,
2-21     where Vann expanded his interests in the communications industry
2-22     by opening a radio and television station; and
2-23           WHEREAS, As with his career in print journalism, Vann's
 3-1     radio and television ventures proved successful; he has served
 3-2     on the radio and television affiliate boards of CBS Television
 3-3     and served two terms on the Texas Association of Broadcasters
 3-4     Board of Directors; in 1973, the latter organization named him
 3-5     Pioneer of the Year; and
 3-6           WHEREAS, In an effort to encourage young Texans interested in
 3-7     the field of communications, Vann actively worked to establish the
 3-8     Texas Broadcast Education Foundation, an organization which has
 3-9     helped more than 100 Texas college and university students in their
3-10     broadcast journalism studies; and
3-11           WHEREAS, This self-described "Southern boy" has done more
3-12     than earn a living through his work as a journalist; Vann is a
3-13     consummate professional whose talent and foresight have made him
3-14     a pioneer in the field of communications; a stellar Texan, Vann
3-15     will long be a source of pride and admiration for all who live
3-16     within the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it
3-17           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
3-18     77th Legislature, hereby honor Vann Kennedy for his
3-19     outstanding contributions to the broadcast industry and
3-20     the State of Texas; and, be it further
3-21           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared
3-22     for Mr. Kennedy as an expression of highest esteem from the
3-23     Texas Senate.
3-24                                                    Truan
 4-1           Armbrister           Gallegos            Ogden
 4-2           Barrientos           Harris              Shapiro
 4-3           Bernsen              Haywood             Shapleigh
 4-4           Bivins               Jackson             Sibley
 4-5           Brown                Lindsay             Staples
 4-6           Cain                 Lucio               Van de Putte
 4-7           Carona               Madla               Wentworth
 4-8           Duncan               Moncrief            West
 4-9           Ellis                Nelson              Whitmire
4-10           Fraser                                   Zaffirini
4-11                      Ratliff, President of the Senate
4-12                                  ______________________________________
4-13                                          President of the Senate
4-14                                       I hereby certify that the above
4-15                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
4-16                                  on May 26, 2001.
4-17                                  ______________________________________
4-18                                          Secretary of the Senate
4-19                                  ______________________________________
4-20                                            Dean of the Senate