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                                                                  H.R. No. 2188



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, With the opening of the Tavis Smiley Center for 
Professional Media Studies in February 2005, the Texas Southern 
University public radio station and NPR affiliate KTSU of Houston 
has secured its stature as one of the Bayou City's most vibrant and 
influential media outlets; and
	WHEREAS, Named in honor of the highly regarded radio and 
television personality Tavis Smiley, the new center is an 
18,000-square-foot showcase of state-of-the-art broadcasting 
technology, including an announcer's studio, production studios, a 
satellite studio, a recording studio, a retail store, and a 
multipurpose classroom; and
	WHEREAS, The establishment of the Tavis Smiley Center for 
Professional Media Studies and the Tavis Smiley School of 
Communications, which houses all TSU communications academic 
programs, including journalism, speech communications, 
telecommunications, and electronic media, is part of an effort by 
the school to attract more minority students to the communications 
field; university officials approached Mr. Smiley, who holds the 
distinction of being the first person to host daily shows on both 
PBS and NPR, with a proposal to name the school's new media 
facilities after him; although the proposal was a 
no-strings-attached initiative intended to honor Mr. Smiley's 
contributions to the field and his stature as a role model for new 
generations of emerging journalists and media professionals, the 
popular talk show host responded with a $1 million gift to TSU that 
is being matched by the state; and
	WHEREAS, From its humble beginnings more than three decades 
ago as a 10-watt station whose signal barely covered a 10-mile 
radius, KTSU has grown alongside its listenership, which is now the 
largest African American audience and the third-largest jazz 
audience of any public radio station in the United States; and
	WHEREAS, Throughout its history, KTSU has served as an 
eloquent vehicle of expression for TSU and the Houston community, 
and its new facilities will ensure that this vital voice will be 
heard with even greater strength and clarity; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby congratulate KTSU and Texas Southern University 
on the opening of the Tavis Smiley Center for Professional Media 
Studies and extend to all those associated with the center sincere 
best wishes for the future; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for KTSU as an expression of high regard by the Texas House 
of Representatives.

                                                                          Dutton

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 2188 was adopted by the House on May 
27, 2005, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House