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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Memories of a life filled with joyful times and |
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meaningful accomplishments remain to comfort those who knew Karen |
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Wheeler Pendergast of Winnsboro, who passed away on February 4, |
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2009, at the age of 70; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Pendergast was born on March 4, 1938, in her |
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beloved Winnsboro; she graduated from the local high school in 1956 |
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and went on to earn a journalism degree from The University of Texas |
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in 1960; and |
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WHEREAS, A pioneer in her field, she was hired as the first |
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woman broadcast journalist by KRLD in Dallas and worked on the radio |
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and television news staffs; in 1963, she married her husband Tom, an |
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executive and newsman for the Associated Press; and |
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WHEREAS, The couple lived in many different locations and |
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traveled widely throughout the United States before settling in |
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Winnsboro in 1985; they purchased the local newspaper, The |
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Winnsboro News, and Mrs. Pendergast immersed herself in its many |
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roles; in addition to directing the paper's day-to-day operations, |
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she authored a lighthearted column called PenWheels that became one |
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of the most popular features and personally wrote each obituary |
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published, reporting the passing of her friends and neighbors with |
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accuracy and compassion; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Pendergast's talent as a writer was matched by |
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her photography skills, which she showcased each year during the |
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monthlong Autumn Trails festival; and |
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WHEREAS, This valued civic leader shared her time with a |
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number of worthwhile community affairs; a member of the Winnsboro |
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Preservation League and a dedicated supporter of the Gilbreath |
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Memorial Library, she served as treasurer of the Winnsboro Heritage |
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Society and on the board of the Winnsboro Area Chamber of Commerce, |
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which honored her as Woman of the Year; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Pendergast also championed and supported the |
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Winnsboro Independent School District and its three local schools; |
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for more than two decades, she generously awarded scholarships to |
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graduates of Winnsboro High School with journalistic potential and |
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donated funds for students in middle school and high school to |
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attend band camps; when the school board created the WISD |
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Foundation, she was named its president, a post she held until her |
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death; and |
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WHEREAS, The generous efforts of Karen Pendergast enriched |
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her community and those she encountered; described as the "soul of |
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the newspaper," she provided a rich and rewarding legacy for all |
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Texans to remember through her words, pictures, and volunteerism; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st |
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Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Karen Wheeler |
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Pendergast and extend deepest sympathy to the members of her |
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family: to her husband, Tom Pendergast; to her daughter, Meredith |
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Ann Simpson, and her husband, David; to her sister, Becky Pickett; |
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to her four grandchildren, Mary Karen Simpson, William Drake |
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Simpson, John McGlamery Chavez, and Aiden Gun Chavez; and to her |
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other relatives and many 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 Karen |
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Wheeler Pendergast. |