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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Family and friends are mourning the loss of Diana |
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Kirby of Rockport, who passed away on February 10, 2011, at the age |
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of 53; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Fairbanks, Alaska, Diana Maria Kirby grew up |
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in Memphis, Tennessee, and Irving; she earned a bachelor's degree |
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in history from Memphis State University and a master's degree in |
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education counseling from Corpus Christi State University; she also |
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did graduate work in public history at the University of Houston; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Kirby was able to turn her love of history into a |
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career, and she worked at museums and historic sites for three |
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decades; in 1984, she moved to Rockport to serve as the curator at |
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the Fulton Mansion State Historic Site and she was promoted to |
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director soon thereafter; in 2008, her expertise and experience |
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were rewarded when she was promoted to historic site supervisor for |
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the Texas Historical Commission, and she divided her time between |
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Rockport and Austin; in her new position, she was responsible for |
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overseeing 10 sites around the state, including the Fulton Mansion, |
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the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, the Sam |
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Rayburn House Museum in Bonham, and the Varner-Hogg Plantation in |
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West Columbia; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Kirby loved to travel with family and friends |
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and enjoyed trips to Europe and Canada as well as antiquing jaunts |
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around Texas; she was known for her warm and giving nature and was |
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an excellent listener who could always be counted on to give wise |
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and caring advice; and |
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WHEREAS, Greatly admired for her dedication to the rich |
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history of the Lone Star State, Diana Kirby made a positive |
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difference in the lives of countless people, and she has left behind |
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a legacy that will continue to resonate for years to come; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Diana Maria Kirby |
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and extend sincere condolences to the members of her family: to her |
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life partner of 25 years, Ruth Davis; to her mother, Jen Kirby; to |
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her stepmother, Sandra Kirby; to her brothers, Tony Kirby and |
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Richard "Sam" Kirby and his wife, Leigh; to her sister, Donna |
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Barnett, and her husband, Donald; to her stepbrother, Steve Bell; |
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and to her other relatives and many friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Diana |
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Kirby. |