H.C.R. No. 253

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Lady Bird Johnson, one of the nation's most beloved first ladies, passed away on July 11, 2007, at the age of 94; and

WHEREAS, Born on December 22, 1912, in Karnack, the former Claudia Alta Taylor was the third child of Thomas Jefferson Taylor and Minnie Pattillo Taylor, and she was dubbed "Lady Bird" by her nursemaid as a toddler; when she was five, her mother died and her Aunt Effie subsequently stepped in to help raise her; and

WHEREAS, She graduated in 1928 from Marshall High School and attended Saint Mary's Episcopal School for Girls in Dallas before enrolling at The University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a bachelor's degree in history in 1933 and a bachelor's of journalism with honors in 1934; her plans to become a newspaper reporter were diverted after she met Lyndon Baines Johnson, who was visiting Austin on business in his role as a congressional secretary; remarking later that she felt like a moth drawn to a flame, she married him on November 17, 1934, within 10 weeks of their first date; and

WHEREAS, By 1937, Mrs. Johnson was on the campaign trail in support of her husband's bid for a Congressional seat, and not five years later she was running his office while he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II; at the same time, she demonstrated her business acumen by purchasing a faltering Austin radio station with an inheritance from her mother; she revived the station with her tireless oversight and eventually expanded it into a multi-million dollar broadcasting company that included a television station, a cable television system, and several radio stations; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Johnson delivered stump speeches throughout Texas in behalf of her husband's race for the U.S. Senate, and she traveled more than 35,000 miles for the Kennedy/Johnson ticket, including trips she organized with Ethel and Eunice Kennedy to introduce Texans to the presidential candidate's family; following the fateful turn of events that thrust her husband into the presidency in November 1963, she stood by his side as he pushed a bold and controversial agenda, and she later defended his policies during a whistle-stop tour through the South, where she spoke with characteristic calm to large and unruly crowds; breaking new ground for a first lady when she campaigned on her own, there is no doubt that she contributed to President Johnson's 1964 landslide victory, which included six of the eight southern states that many expected him to lose; and

WHEREAS, It was during Mrs. Johnson's second term as first lady that she initiated a beautification project of the nation's capital; raising public and private dollars and enlisting a team of philanthropists and government officials, she guided the planting of flowers and trees on the mall and in triangle parks all over the city, and she pressed for several revitalization efforts; the local actions were a prelude to what became the first major legislative campaign ever commenced by a first lady; the Highway Beautification Act of 1965 or, as it came to be known, "Lady Bird's Bill," called for fewer billboards and junkyards along the highways and dramatically improved the American landscape; and

WHEREAS, After returning to Texas in 1969, Mrs. Johnson focused on enhancing her native state; she was the leading force behind the development of a hike and bike trail in downtown Austin that has become one of the city's most treasured public spaces, and for 20 years she continued to encourage the beautification of the state's roadways by recognizing highway districts for their use of native plants and scenery; in 1982, on the occasion of her 70th birthday, she founded the National Wildflower Research Center, which was later renamed the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and associated with The University of Texas at Austin; and

WHEREAS, Along the way, Mrs. Johnson published A White House Diary, an edited version of the diary she kept as first lady, played a key role in planning for the LBJ Library and Museum and the LBJ School of Public Affairs, served as a member of The University of Texas System Board of Regents, and remained actively involved in the LBJ Holding Company; although she lost President Johnson in early 1973, the energy and passion with which she accomplished so much recalled the momentum of the man who had swept her off her feet decades earlier; her life was further enriched by her two daughters, Lynda Bird and Luci Baines, who were born while their father was a congressman, and by her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Wholly committed to improving the world around her, Lady Bird Johnson set an inspiring example of leadership and vision, and her gentle kindness touched more lives than she could ever know; of her enduring achievements, the miles and miles of colorful wildflowers that brighten our cities and countryside perhaps best evoke the memory of this exceptional woman; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas hereby pay tribute to the remarkable life of Lady Bird Johnson; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of Lady Bird Johnson.

McCall

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.C.R. No. 253 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on May 28, 2009.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.C.R. No. 253 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the Senate on May 29, 2009.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________

Date

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Governor