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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The celebrated Texas author David Marion Wilkinson |
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has brought distinction to himself and to the Lone Star State |
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through the success of his fine works of fiction and nonfiction; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Arkansas, Mr. Wilkinson moved to Texas in |
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1972 and graduated from The University of Texas with a bachelor's |
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degree in English in 1980; like many writers, he has had a |
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peripatetic career, working as a carpenter, a mortgage loan |
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officer, a private investigator, and an oil field worker; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Wilkinson's work reflects both his own colorful |
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life story and his deep love of history; his first novel, Not |
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Between Brothers, an epic saga of the clash of cultures in the early |
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years of Texas, won the 1997 Violet Crown Award for fiction; his |
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second novel, The Empty Quarter, was inspired by his own |
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experiences working in the oil fields of Saudi Arabia and the North |
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Sea; and |
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WHEREAS, Oblivion's Altar, Mr. Wilkinson's third novel, tells |
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the tragic story of the Cherokee Chief Major Ridge and won the 2003 |
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Spur Award for Best Original Paperback; with Joaquin Jackson, |
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Wilkinson penned One Ranger, a memoir of Jackson's dramatic career |
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as a Texas Ranger; recently released in paperback, it is the |
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fastest-selling book in the history of The University of Texas |
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Press; and |
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WHEREAS, Now working on a contemporary novel set in the |
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spectacular Big Bend country of West Texas, this outstanding writer |
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further contributes to the artistic life of Texas as |
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writer-in-residence at Sul Ross State University in Alpine; he also |
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sits on the board of Ozark Creative Writers and is a member of the |
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Western Writers of America; and |
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WHEREAS, With four fine books to date and more to come, David |
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Marion Wilkinson is a bright star in the firmament of Texas |
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literature, and through his service to the students of Sul Ross |
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State University, he is an inspiration and a mentor to young Texas |
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writers; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate David Marion Wilkinson on his many |
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accomplishments and commend him for his contribution to the |
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cultural heritage of the Lone Star State; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. |
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Wilkinson as a token of high regard by the Texas House of |
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Representatives. |