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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, General manager of KTSU-FM in Houston, George Thomas |
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has distinguished himself as a talented and determined professional |
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throughout his career in broadcasting; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Thomas was appointed to his current position in |
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1995; he had served as director of special veterans programs at |
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Texas Southern University and was an account executive at KYOK-AM, |
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where he organized the first college internship program between the |
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station and Prairie View A&M University; a former project |
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coordinator with the U.S. Department of Labor, Mr. Thomas is also an |
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accomplished jazz musician, writer, and community organizer; and |
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WHEREAS, Under his leadership, KTSU has experienced |
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unprecedented growth, receiving local and national attention for |
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its quality programming and gaining affiliate status from the |
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Corporation for Public Broadcasting and National Public Radio; the |
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station's membership has grown to more than 14,000 individuals, and |
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its budget has increased by more than 100 percent due to ongoing |
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efforts to identify external funding resources; in 2002, the |
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Houston Press named KTSU the best radio station in the city; and |
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WHEREAS, As general manager, Mr. Thomas has implemented |
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professional staff development, provided salaries for on-air |
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personalities, created the first major long-term strategic plan for |
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the station, conducted the first audience research analysis, and |
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created the first African American national public radio challenge |
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with WCLK-FM in Atlanta; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Thomas has served on the Corporation for Public |
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Broadcasting Future Fund Committee and has been invited to |
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represent African American public radio stations on CPB's advisory |
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panel for fund distribution; he is also a respected member of the |
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African American Public Radio Consortium; and |
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WHEREAS, Before embarking on a career in radio, Mr. Thomas |
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was employed for a time as a community organizer with Hope |
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Development; in this position, he worked to address the needs of |
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Fifth Ward residents and other underserved communities in the Bayou |
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City; he also wrote for the Voice of Hope News and worked as a |
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project coordinator for the Work Experience Program, funded by the |
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Department of Labor; and |
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WHEREAS, George Thomas has helped to change the landscape of |
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public broadcasting in Houston, and it is indeed a pleasure to |
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recognize him for his extraordinary accomplishments; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor George Thomas for his outstanding career |
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in radio and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success |
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and achievement; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Thomas as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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Dutton |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2545 was adopted by the House on May |
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25, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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