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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Cooke family of Rockdale is celebrating |
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100 years of consecutive ownership and operation of the |
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Rockdale Reporter on May 29, 2011; and |
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WHEREAS, John Esten Cooke purchased the Rockdale Reporter and |
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Messenger in May 1911, and he began working there on the 29th of |
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that month; the first edition produced under his leadership was |
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published on June 1; and |
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WHEREAS, The paper has since been passed down through three |
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generations of Mr. Cooke's descendants, including W. H. Cooke, his |
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son, J. W. "Bill" Cooke, his grandson, and Ken Esten Cooke and |
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Kathy Cooke Martin, his great-grandchildren, who together |
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oversee the Rockdale Reporter today; in addition, his |
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great-great-granddaughter, Katie Cooke-Garza, works at the paper |
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as a reporter; and |
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WHEREAS, One of the Lone Star State's most honored weekly |
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newspapers, the Rockdale Reporter has won sweepstakes from the |
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South Texas Press Association for the last four years in a row, |
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bringing its total to 14 in recent decades; and |
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WHEREAS, For 100 years, the Rockdale Reporter has served as a |
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vital resource for area residents, and its enduring success is a |
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testament to the business values and journalism standards that John |
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Esten Cooke established and on which his descendants have built; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the Cooke family on 100 consecutive |
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years of ownership of the Rockdale Reporter and extend to them and |
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their staff sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Cooke family as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |