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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Respected musician and advocate Ray Benson has been |
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named Texan of the Year by the Texas Legislative Conference in |
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recognition of the admirable achievements he has realized through |
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the years; and |
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WHEREAS, With his selection for the award, Mr. Benson is |
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joining a distinguished list of individuals who have been honored |
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by the Texas Legislative Conference; former winners include Barbara |
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Jordan, Laura Bush, and Governor Rick Perry, and the announcement |
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of the Texan of the Year is a highlight of the organization's annual |
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meeting, which brings together business and political leaders from |
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around the state; and |
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WHEREAS, Ray Benson is well known to music fans in the Lone |
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Star State and the world over for his leadership of Asleep at the |
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Wheel, which was founded in 1970 and settled in Austin three years |
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later; specializing in a spirited brand of western swing music, the |
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band has released more than 25 albums, won nine Grammy Awards, and |
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entertained concert audiences throughout the United States and |
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beyond during its long career; Mr. Benson has also earned acclaim |
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for cowriting and starring in the play A Ride with Bob, which pays
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tribute to Texas music legend Bob Wills; and |
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WHEREAS, An effective organizer in addition to being a |
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talented artist, Mr. Benson has dedicated himself to assisting |
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others, both inside and outside the music industry; he is a founding |
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member of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, which raises money to |
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help aging R&B artists, as well as the Health Alliance for Austin |
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Musicians and the SIMS Foundation; moreover, he is a member of the |
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board of the St. David's Community Health Foundation and is a |
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trustee for the Texas Chapter of the National Academy of Recording |
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Arts & Sciences; and |
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WHEREAS, This widely admired individual was chosen as the |
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Texas State Musician for 2004 and is a 2011 recipient of the Texas |
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Medal of Arts; he was nominated for Texan of the Year by the |
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Honorable Edmund Kuempel on the night before Representative Kuempel |
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passed away in 2010, and that beloved legislator indeed made a wise |
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choice; over the course of more than 40 years, Ray Benson has |
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distinguished himself through his artistry as well as through his |
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work to strengthen his community and to benefit those in need, and |
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he is truly deserving of this prestigious commendation; 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 congratulate Ray Benson on his selection as |
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Texan of the Year by the Texas Legislative Conference and extend to |
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him sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Benson as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |