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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Texas is fortunate to have passionate and engaged |
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residents like Edward H. Harte of Corpus Christi, whose committed |
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environmental advocacy has made the state a better place in which to |
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live and raise a family; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Missouri in 1922, Ed Harte grew up in San |
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Angelo and earned a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College; he |
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served in the weather wing of the U.S. Army Air Corps during World |
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War II before beginning a career as a newspaper reporter; in 1952, |
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he returned to San Angelo as president of the Standard-Times, and he |
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went on to join the Corpus Christi Caller-Times; he accepted |
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further responsibility through the years, ultimately serving as |
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publisher of the paper from 1962 until his retirement in 1987; and |
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WHEREAS, Along the way, Mr. Harte developed a keen interest |
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in environmental issues and became active in such organizations as |
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the Audubon Society, which he served as chair, and the American |
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Farmland Trust, which he helped transform into a national |
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organization; he was a key proponent of the establishment of both |
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Mustang Island State Park and Padre Island National Seashore, and |
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he worked with other concerned citizens to develop the first |
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municipal regulations that set limits on oil and gas drilling in |
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Corpus Christi Bay; moreover, he helped build the first statewide |
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conservation group as a founding member of the Conservation |
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Federation of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Perhaps the greatest example of Mr. Harte's vision |
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and generosity is his $46 million endowment to create the Harte |
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Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M |
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University-Corpus Christi; dedicated to supporting and advancing |
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the long-term sustainable use and conservation of the Gulf of |
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Mexico, the institute has become a premier center for |
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interdisciplinary research and public policy; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Harte enjoyed the love and support of his wife, |
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Janet, for more than a half a century before her death in 1999; |
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together they shared a love of birding and wildlife, which they |
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encouraged in their four children on trips throughout the world; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Though it is impossible to gauge the full effect of |
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an individual's life, some people leave their unmistakable mark on |
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the world as they move through it, and Ed Harte is indeed one such |
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person; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Edward H. Harte on his outstanding |
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contributions to the Lone Star State and extend to him sincere best |
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wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Harte as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |