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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Former Texas governor Dolph Briscoe, Jr., has |
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dedicated his life to public service and philanthropy, and in |
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November 2008, he was selected to receive the Santa Rita Award by |
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the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System; and |
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WHEREAS, The highest honor bestowed by the UT Regents, the |
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Santa Rita Award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated |
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concern for the principles of higher education, as well as deep |
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commitment to furtherance of the purposes and objectives of The |
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University of Texas System; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on April 23, 1923, in Uvalde, Dolph Briscoe, |
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Jr., graduated as valedictorian from Uvalde High School and |
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subsequently attended The University of Texas at Austin, where he |
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was a member of the Friar Society and served as editor-in-chief of |
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the Cactus yearbook; he earned a bachelor's degree in 1942, the same |
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year he married a fellow Longhorn, the former Janey Slaughter; |
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following a tour of duty with the army in the China-Burma-India |
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theater during World War II, he returned with his wife to his |
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hometown and his family's ranching business; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Briscoe began his service in the Texas House of |
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Representatives in 1949 and quickly made his mark with the |
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Colson-Briscoe Act, a measure that appropriated $15 million a year |
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to build farm-to-market and ranch-to-market roads and radically |
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enhanced the way of life for farmers and rural Texans; during four |
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terms of service, he also successfully advocated for bills that |
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improved statewide public education and brought telephone service |
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to thousands of rural residents; and |
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WHEREAS, After his father's death in 1954, Mr. Briscoe became |
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the owner and manager of one of the largest and most diverse ranches |
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in the state; he went on to serve as president of the Texas and |
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Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and was instrumental in the |
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development of the Southwest United States screwworm eradication |
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program, which is still considered one of the most important and |
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beneficial in the history of livestock; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan reentered the political arena in |
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1972 as the Democratic candidate for governor and impressed voters |
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with his platform of honesty and integrity in government; his |
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tenure spanned six years and included such achievements as passage |
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of open meetings and open records legislation and an extensive |
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ethics and financial disclosure bill; moreover, he added some $4 |
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billion in public funds for secondary and higher education; in |
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addition, Governor Briscoe distinguished himself as chair of the |
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Southern Governors' Association, as president of the Interstate Oil |
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Compact Commission, as a member of the National Petroleum Council, |
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and as an executive committee member of the National Governors |
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Association; and |
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WHEREAS, Since leaving public office in the late 1970s, he |
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has continued to benefit the Lone Star State through his |
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exceptional support of UT System institutions, including the UT |
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Health Science Center at San Antonio, UT M. D. Anderson Cancer |
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Center, and UT Southwestern Medical Center; Mr. Briscoe's most |
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recent gift in 2008 of $15 million to the Center for American |
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History at UT Austin reflects both his passion for history and his |
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enthusiasm for his alma mater, and the center was fittingly renamed |
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in his honor; and |
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WHEREAS, Equally committed to making a positive difference in |
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the lives of Texans was Mrs. Briscoe, who worked in behalf of |
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children, senior citizens, and the developmentally disabled before |
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her death in 2000; Mr. and Mrs. Briscoe raised three children, Janey |
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Briscoe Marmion, Dolph Briscoe III, and Cele Briscoe Carpenter, and |
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inspired others with their long and devoted union; and |
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WHEREAS, The University of Texas System and its institutions |
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realize great achievements year after year, thanks in part to the |
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generosity and vision of people such as Dolph Briscoe, and his |
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immeasurable contributions to higher education will continue to |
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resonate well into the future; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor former governor Dolph Briscoe, Jr., on his |
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receipt of the Santa Rita Award and extend to him sincere |
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appreciation for his outstanding dedication to his fellow Texans; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Briscoe as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |