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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Admirers across the country and around the world are |
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celebrating the centennial of Ronald Reagan's birth on February 6, |
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2011, and this occasion presents an ideal opportunity to honor his |
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wife, Nancy Reagan, for her remarkable contributions as a first |
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lady, role model, and advocate for research on Alzheimer's disease; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Born in New York City on July 6, 1921, the former |
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Nancy Davis graduated from Smith College with a degree in drama and |
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began her acting career on New York stages; Hollywood beckoned, and |
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she appeared in 11 movies, including East Side, West Side and Shadow |
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on the Wall; on March 4, 1952, she married Ronald Reagan, and they |
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starred together in Hellcats of the Navy; they became the parents of |
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two children, Patricia and Ronald, and Mrs. Reagan devoted herself |
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to caring for her family and supporting her husband as one of his |
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most trusted political advisors; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Reagan worked with numerous charitable groups |
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during her husband's tenure as governor of California from 1967 to |
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1975; she spent countless hours visiting veterans, the elderly, and |
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the disabled, and she gave even more generously of her time and |
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talents as first lady of the United States; a tireless supporter of |
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the Foster Grandparent Program, she also took up the issue of drug |
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and alcohol abuse among young people and raised awareness through |
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the "Just Say No" campaign, and she traveled extensively to speak |
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about those causes; moreover, she supported the arts and young |
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performers through the public television series In Performance at |
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the White House; her efforts won the hearts of her fellow Americans, |
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and she was consistently listed among the 10 most admired women in |
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the world in Gallup Polls in the 1980s; and |
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WHEREAS, After her husband left office, Mrs. Reagan |
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established the Nancy Reagan Foundation to continue teaching youth |
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about the dangers of substance abuse; former president Reagan |
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announced in 1994 that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's |
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disease, and the next year, the couple joined with the Alzheimer's |
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Association to found the Ronald and Nancy Reagan Research Institute |
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to accelerate the progress of research on this disease; in addition |
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to serving as a caregiver for her husband until his death, Mrs. |
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Reagan has dedicated herself to advocacy; she has helped raise |
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millions of dollars for research and increased the level of |
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knowledge among the public, breaking down misconceptions; and |
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WHEREAS, Nancy Reagan has inspired innumerable people |
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through her philanthropic endeavors, and she has set a shining |
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example of devotion, compassion, and courage to which others may |
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aspire; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Nancy Reagan for her exceptional |
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contributions to the citizens of this nation on the occasion of the |
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centennial of Ronald Reagan's birth and extend to her sincere best |
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wishes for the future. |