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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Patricia Burns has earned the 16th annual Steel |
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Oleander Award, presented by the Galveston Historical Foundation to |
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an outstanding local woman whose community service reflects the |
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ideals and independent spirit of early citizen Bettie Brown; and |
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WHEREAS, A valued member of the foundation, Pat Burns has |
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served on the board of directors and as its president; thanks in |
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part to her leadership, the group purchased the Menard House, the |
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city's oldest residence, in an effort to stabilize the important |
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landmark and ultimately find a private buyer to restore it; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Burns was captivated by the potential of the |
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house, and in 1994 she and her husband, Fred, elected to buy the |
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legendary structure; after spending a year restoring it and |
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furnishing it with a museum-quality collection of federal period |
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antiques, the couple generously donated the house to the Galveston |
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Historical Foundation, which has used it as a museum, an event |
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venue, and a residence for visiting scholars and special guests; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Thanks to her dedicated efforts, the Menard House |
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has earned wide acclaim, winning first place in the annual |
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preservation awards given by the National Trust for Historic |
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Preservation and a place on the National Register of Historic |
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Places; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Burns and her husband have also restored the |
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1856 Hutchings House, and they have purchased two additional |
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buildings that they plan to renovate; and |
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WHEREAS, Active in a number of worthwhile causes, Mrs. Burns |
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has been a member of The University of Texas Medical Branch |
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Development Board and served on the boards of the Methodist |
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Retirement Communities of Texas, the Moody Memorial First United |
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Methodist Church, and the Society for the Performing Arts in |
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Houston; she has also been president of the boards of the Edgewater |
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Retirement Community of Galveston and of the Grand 1894 Opera |
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House; along with her husband, she is a past cochair of the National |
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Trust Council in Washington, D.C.; and |
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WHEREAS, Pat Burns has helped ensure that future generations |
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will have a tangible connection with the history of this great |
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state, and she is truly deserving of special recognition; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Patricia Burns on receiving the |
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2009 Steel Oleander Award from the Galveston Historical Foundation |
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and commend her for her many contributions to her community, state, |
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and nation; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mrs. Burns as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |