| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Patricia Burns has earned the 16th annual Steel |
|
|
Oleander Award, presented by the Galveston Historical Foundation to |
|
|
an outstanding local woman whose community service reflects the |
|
|
ideals and independent spirit of early citizen Bettie Brown; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A valued member of the foundation, Pat Burns has |
|
|
served on the board of directors and as its president; thanks in |
|
|
part to her leadership, the group purchased the Menard House, the |
|
|
city's oldest residence, in an effort to stabilize the important |
|
|
landmark and ultimately find a private buyer to restore it; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mrs. Burns was captivated by the potential of the |
|
|
house, and in 1994 she and her husband, Fred, elected to buy the |
|
|
legendary structure; after spending a year restoring it and |
|
|
furnishing it with a museum-quality collection of federal period |
|
|
antiques, the couple generously donated the house to the Galveston |
|
|
Historical Foundation, which has used it as a museum, an event |
|
|
venue, and a residence for visiting scholars and special guests; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Thanks to her dedicated efforts, the Menard House |
|
|
has earned wide acclaim, winning first place in the annual |
|
|
preservation awards given by the National Trust for Historic |
|
|
Preservation and a place on the National Register of Historic |
|
|
Places; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mrs. Burns and her husband have also restored the |
|
|
1856 Hutchings House, and they have purchased two additional |
|
|
buildings that they plan to renovate; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Active in a number of worthwhile causes, Mrs. Burns |
|
|
has been a member of The University of Texas Medical Branch |
|
|
Development Board and served on the boards of the Methodist |
|
|
Retirement Communities of Texas, the Moody Memorial First United |
|
|
Methodist Church, and the Society for the Performing Arts in |
|
|
Houston; she has also been president of the boards of the Edgewater |
|
|
Retirement Community of Galveston and of the Grand 1894 Opera |
|
|
House; along with her husband, she is a past cochair of the National |
|
|
Trust Council in Washington, D.C.; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Pat Burns has helped ensure that future generations |
|
|
will have a tangible connection with the history of this great |
|
|
state, and she is truly deserving of special recognition; now, |
|
|
therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby congratulate Patricia Burns on receiving the |
|
|
2009 Steel Oleander Award from the Galveston Historical Foundation |
|
|
and commend her for her many contributions to her community, state, |
|
|
and nation; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for Mrs. Burns as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
|
|
House of Representatives. |
| |
|
|
Eiland |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 1863 was adopted by the House on May |
|
|
14, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |