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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Family and friends are mourning the loss of |
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Wilhelmina Daisy Cullen Robertson Smith of Houston, who died on |
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January 26, 2009, at the age of 86; and |
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WHEREAS, The former Wilhelmina Cullen was the daughter of |
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Hugh Roy Cullen and Lillie Cranz Cullen; she attended Sweet Briar |
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College in Virginia during World War II, but she returned to Texas |
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and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Houston in |
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1944; the following year, she married Corbin James Robertson, Sr., |
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who was serving in the Army Air Corps at Ellington Field; the couple |
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nurtured a fulfilling relationship until Mr. Robertson's passing in |
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1991; fortunate to find love a second time, she was joined in |
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matrimony to Edgar A. Smith, Jr., in 1998; and |
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WHEREAS, An active philanthropist, Mrs. Smith helped launch |
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the magnet program in Houston's public schools, and she led her |
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family's organization, the Cullen Foundation, for five decades, |
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through which she assisted numerous local institutions, including |
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Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Medical Center; she also |
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established three trusts to benefit higher education, health, and |
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the performing arts; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Smith was especially devoted to the University |
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of Houston, and she was one of her alma mater's most dedicated |
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supporters; her parents also have a place in UH history, as they are |
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regarded as its founding family and the school's first major |
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benefactors; through the years, Mrs. Smith continued her parents' |
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legacy, and she shared this commitment with her first husband, who |
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supported the university's early athletic programs and for whom |
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Corbin J. Robertson Stadium is named; a life member of the UH Alumni |
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Organization, Mrs. Smith was awarded an honorary doctoral degree in |
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1988 and a Distinguished Alumni award in 1989; moreover, the UH |
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Board of Regents approved the construction of the Wilhelmina |
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Robertson Smith Pavilion, a sports complex to be built at Robertson |
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Stadium; and |
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WHEREAS, Dedicated to her community, Wilhelmina Smith was an |
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inspiration to all who were fortunate enough to know her, and she |
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leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of generosity and goodwill |
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that will not soon be forgotten; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Wilhelmina Daisy |
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Cullen Robertson Smith and extend sincere sympathy to the members |
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of her family: to her husband, Edgar A. Smith, Jr.; to her children, |
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Wilhelmina Elizabeth "Beth" Robertson, Corbin J. Robertson, Jr., |
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Lillie Therese Robertson, Carroll Christine Robertson Ray, and |
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Alison Susan Robertson Baumann; and to her other relatives and |
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friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Wilhelmina |
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Smith. |
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Woolley |
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Cohen |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 625 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on March 5, 2009. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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