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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Throughout their careers, Dr. Joe D. Townsend and |
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Dr. Christine Townsend of Texas A&M University in College Station |
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have ably served countless students as professors, academic |
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advisors, mentors, role models, and friends; and |
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WHEREAS, A 1967 graduate of Texas A&M University, "Dr. Joe" |
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began his teaching career some 40 years ago as a vocational |
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agriculture instructor in Aubrey; he returned to A&M in 1984 and |
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served as the associate dean for student development in the College |
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of Agriculture and Life Sciences for two decades before taking on |
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his current position as the university's associate vice president |
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for student affairs; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Joe has worked to instill in all of his students |
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the qualities of leadership, self-esteem, and responsibility as |
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well as a dedication to causes greater than themselves; he has also |
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been a strong advocate for Texas agriculture and has promoted its |
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importance to the American way of life through education and by |
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encouraging students and their families to participate in such |
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programs as the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the State Fair of |
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Texas, the San Antonio Livestock Exposition, and the Agricultural |
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Consortium of Texas, which brings together agricultural student |
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leaders from colleges, universities, and youth organizations |
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across the state; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed educator's efforts have been |
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recognized by the Texas 4-H Alumni Association, the Texas FFA, the |
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National FFA organization, Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, Saddle & |
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Sirloin, the National Agricultural Science Organization, the Texas |
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Education Agency, and the State of Iowa, and he has received |
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numerous teaching and administrative honors from the Texas A&M |
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Association of Former Students as well; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Joe's wife, "Dr. Chris," has also devoted her |
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time and considerable expertise to teaching students at Texas A&M, |
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and through her exemplary leadership, she helps students develop |
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the confidence and assurance they will need to become productive |
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and successful in whichever career path they may choose; and |
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WHEREAS, A tenured professor in the Agricultural Leadership, |
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Education, & Communications Department in the College of |
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Agriculture and Life Sciences, Dr. Chris has served as department |
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head, undergraduate coordinator, and undergraduate advisor; in her |
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work as chair for more than 100 graduate committees, she has guided |
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students in their research of effective leadership and education |
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methods for youth, college students, and adults; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Chris has been awarded numerous teaching honors, |
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including the Texas A&M University Professorship for Undergraduate |
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Teaching Excellence, the National Association of Leadership |
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Educators Distinguished Leadership Educator Award, the Texas A&M |
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University Achievement Award for Teaching, and the Texas A&M |
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University Center for Teaching Excellence Scholar Award; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2009, Dr. Chris established the Dr. Joe D. |
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Townsend '67 Leadership Fellows Program, with the generous support |
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of contributors who have long admired her husband's efforts to |
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create a prestigious and rigorous academic environment for |
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leadership development that allows students to engage their skills |
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as leaders in an arena beyond the classroom and to celebrate their |
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trials and errors as well as their successes; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Joe and Dr. Chris have inspired generations of |
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students to lead by example, to learn by doing, and to never accept |
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the status quo, and in so doing, they have had a positive and |
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far-reaching influence on the lives of many young Texans; 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 commend Dr. Joe D. Townsend and Dr. Christine |
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Townsend on their exceptional contributions as educators and extend |
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to them sincere best wishes for continued success with their |
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important work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Townsends as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |