H.R. No. 2589

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Governor Dolph Briscoe, Jr., is being honored with the 2009 Pathfinder Award by the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, in recognition of his extraordinary record of philanthropy and community service in the Alamo City; and

WHEREAS, Born in Uvalde in 1923, Dolph Briscoe has achieved a distinguished career in both the public and private arenas; this esteemed Texan served as a member of the Texas Legislature from 1949 to 1957 and as governor of Texas from 1973 to 1979; he and his wife, Janey Slaughter Briscoe, an eminent civic leader in her own right, shared a devoted union of nearly 58 years, until her passing in 2000; and

WHEREAS, One of the greatest beneficiaries of Governor Briscoe's generosity has been The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, which from its beginning has enjoyed his and his family's staunch support; during the past decade, Governor Briscoe has donated more than $4 million to the health science center to establish the world-class Janey Briscoe Center of Excellence in Cardiovascular Research and the Janey Briscoe Distinguished University Chair in Cardiovascular Research; and

WHEREAS, The health science center honored Governor Briscoe in 2008 with the creation of the Briscoe Family Legacy Fund in Women's Health in the School of Medicine; at the gala honoring Governor Briscoe and celebrating the establishment of the fund, Governor Briscoe announced that he and his family were giving the center $5 million in support of cardiology and women's health; the university has expressed its appreciation by naming the Division of Cardiology in the medical school after Janey and Dolph Briscoe; and

WHEREAS, Among Governor Briscoe's other contributions to the center have been the establishment of the Janey Briscoe Endowed Scholarship in Nursing and the raising of $12 million in just seven months to help create the South Texas Centers for Biology in Medicine, for which ground breaking was held in 1998; the library on the UTHSC campus bears Governor Briscoe's name, in gratitude for his outstanding generosity, and the Children's Center of University Hospital is named for Janey Briscoe, in appreciation of her lifetime of service to children; and

WHEREAS, Governor Briscoe has also taken a keen interest in The University of Texas at San Antonio, where his long record of support includes service as a member of the UTSA development board and President's Associates, the co-chairing, with his wife, of the school's Engineering and Biotech Initiative, and the establishment of the Janey S. Briscoe Endowed Chair in the Business of Health; and

WHEREAS, Cultural institutions have enjoyed Governor Briscoe's generous patronage as well; his gift of $4 million has laid the foundation for the Dolph and Janey Briscoe Western Art Museum, which is being built in the heart of downtown San Antonio, while at the Witte Museum, his donation of $500,000 helped to mount a stunning exhibition about South Texas; he has also helped lead the campaign to create the South Texas Heritage Center on the Witte campus; and

WHEREAS, Over the years, Governor Briscoe's deep interest in the welfare of San Antonio citizens has been manifested through his involvement with such institutions as the Southwest Mental Health Center, United Way, San Antonio Advocacy Council, and Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his most recent accolade, Governor Briscoe has been recognized in San Antonio with the Frost Award from UTSA and the naming of a middle school in his honor; and

WHEREAS, Governor Briscoe's three children, Janey Briscoe Marmion, Dolph Briscoe III, and Cele Briscoe Carpenter, have supported their father in his charitable endeavors; and

WHEREAS, Through his far-reaching generosity, Governor Dolph Briscoe, Jr., has advanced the development of medical, educational, and cultural institutions in San Antonio and helped to secure a brighter, more promising future for countless Texans; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Governor Dolph Briscoe, Jr., on his receipt of the 2009 Pathfinder Award from the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and extend to him profound appreciation for a lifetime of illustrious service in behalf of the Lone Star State; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Governor Briscoe as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

Martinez Fischer

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 2589 was adopted by the House on May 31, 2009, by a non-record vote.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House