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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Author Harold Fickett of Nacogdoches has made a |
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significant contribution to the public discourse about religious |
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faith and Christianity through his books and articles; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Fickett earned his bachelor's degree summa cum |
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laude from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1975 and |
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his master's degree in creative writing from Brown University in |
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1978; he has also studied at the Graduate Theological Union in |
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Berkeley; and |
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WHEREAS, A published author of both fiction and nonfiction, |
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Mr. Fickett has written a volume of short stories, Mrs. Sunday's |
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Problem and Other Stories, and several novels, including The Holy |
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Fool, First Light, and Daybreak; his book The Living Christ |
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combines journalism with theological reflection, and he has |
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collaborated with Charles Colson on a number of works, including |
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the 2008 book, The Faith; Mr. Fickett has also written biographies |
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of the author Flannery O'Connor and the humanitarian Albert |
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Schweitzer; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of strong faith, Mr. Fickett has shared his |
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beliefs as cofounder of Image: Art, Faith, Mystery, a journal |
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showcasing religious artists, and he is an associate editor of |
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GodSpy, an online Catholic magazine that provides thoughtful |
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commentary on contemporary events and culture; he has published |
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widely in the secular media as well, including the National Review |
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and the online magazines Salon and Slate; and |
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WHEREAS, An experienced educator, Mr. Fickett has taught |
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English at Wheaton College, St. John's Seminary College, Friends |
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University, and Kansas Newman College; he served as executive |
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director of the Milton Center at KNC, and in that role he instituted |
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a postgraduate fellows program and established the Glen Workshop, a |
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yearly conference for Christian writers; and |
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WHEREAS, In Nacogdoches, this esteemed gentleman serves as |
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chair of the board of Regents Academy, where he also teaches the |
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capstone humanities course to seniors as a volunteer; in addition, |
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he serves his community as a lay catechist at the Catholic Student |
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Center at Stephen F. Austin State University and as chair of the |
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community council; and |
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WHEREAS, For more than 30 years, this thought-provoking and |
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prolific author has both written about current events and explored |
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profound mysteries of faith, and in so doing, he has enriched his |
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community and the culture at large; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Harold Fickett for his literary |
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achievements, his influence on contemporary culture, and his |
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contributions to his community and extend to him sincere best |
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wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Fickett as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |