H.R. No. 1813

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The 37-year career of Jack Loftis at the Houston Chronicle is a long and noteworthy chapter in the history of Texas journalism; and

WHEREAS, A native of Hillsboro, Mr. Loftis started in the newspaper business as a sportswriter at the Hillsboro Daily Mirror in 1955, while he was still attending Baylor University in Waco; and

WHEREAS, After graduating from Baylor in 1957 with a bachelor's degree in business administration, he worked several jobs before returning to journalism to become the editor of the Daily Mirror in 1962; and

WHEREAS, In 1965 he was hired as a copy editor at the Houston Chronicle and was appointed editor of the Chronicle's Sunday Texas Magazine in 1970; four years later, he was named the paper's assistant managing editor and five years after that, the assistant editor; and

WHEREAS, When the Hearst Corporation purchased the Chronicle in 1987, Mr. Loftis was promoted to vice president and editor, and in 1998 he became the editor and associate publisher; and

WHEREAS, During his 15 years as the Chronicle's editor, Mr. Loftis was instrumental in the publication's growth and success; the paper opened several new domestic and foreign bureaus and won numerous local, state, and national journalism awards; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Loftis has likewise contributed to the field of journalism through his involvement in various professional organizations; he is a former president and board member of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, which awarded him the James Madison Award in 1999; he has also served as president of the Newspapers Features Council, receiving its Jester Award in 1992, and of the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors, which in 1997 named him as one of the first 10 inductees in the AASFE Features Hall of Fame; a former director of the Texas Daily Newspaper Association, he has served twice as a juror for the Pulitzer Prize and has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Headliners Foundation of Texas; and

WHEREAS, On his retirement from the Chronicle in 2002, Mr. Loftis was named editor emeritus; and

WHEREAS, Jack Loftis has long been committed to his alma mater; for eight years he was a member of the Baylor Alumni Association Board of Directors and for three years a director of the Baylor "B" Association; the school named him a distinguished alumnus in 1988 and bestowed the Baylor Media Award on him in 1997; in 2001 the university further honored this former Baylor baseball player by naming the press box at Baylor Ballpark after him; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Loftis has also devoted himself to his community by serving on the boards of the Houston READ Commission, Clean Houston, the Houston Club, the Chronicle Goodfellows, the Crime Stoppers of Houston, and the Cartoonists Society of America; even in retirement he remains active, together with his wife, Beverly, in the Lone Star Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Friends of West University Parks, and Citizens for Animal Protection; and

WHEREAS, The many notable contributions of Jack Loftis to his profession and to his community have greatly benefited his fellow Texans; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas Legislature hereby honor Jack Loftis for his remarkable career in journalism and for his civic engagement and extend best wishes to him for continued success and happiness; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Loftis as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Murphy

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 1813 was adopted by the House on May 18, 2007, by a non-record vote.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House