SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 641

WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to pay tribute to public broadcasting pioneer Robert Schenkkan, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday; and

WHEREAS, Robert Schenkkan is one of the founding fathers of public broadcasting and one of its most ardent defenders; he was joined by family and friends recently at a party hosted by KUT radio and KLRU television in celebration of his birthday and in recognition of his many accomplishments and contributions to public broadcasting; and

WHEREAS, Bob Schenkkan was born on March 4, 1917; he studied drama at the University of Virginia and attended graduate school at the University of North Carolina; after serving in the navy during World War II, he returned to North Carolina and helped launch an educational television station; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Schenkkan was recruited by The University of Texas at Austin in 1955 and has been a resident of Austin ever since; he helped create KUT radio in 1958 and KLRU television in 1962; and

WHEREAS, He is credited with saving public affairs programming in the 1970s when President Nixon threatened to pull support, and he was instrumental in organizing educational television stations into the Public Broadcasting Service Network; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 80th Legislature, hereby recognize Robert Schenkkan as a treasured citizen of Austin and the State of Texas and salute him on his 90th birthday for his many accomplishments and his outstanding leadership as a pioneer of public broadcasting; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for him as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. Watson

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on April 3, 2007.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate