|
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Admired newspaperman, philanthropist, and civic |
|
leader Edward H. Harte passed away on May 18, 2011, at the age of 88; |
|
and |
|
WHEREAS, Born in Pilot Grove, Missouri, Ed Harte was raised |
|
in San Angelo and learned the newspaper business from the ground up |
|
at the San Angelo Standard-Times, which had been purchased by his |
|
father in 1920; Mr. Harte began working as a switchboard operator |
|
and earned his stripes as a reporter before rising through the |
|
newsroom ranks to become publisher of the Corpus Christi |
|
Caller-Times in 1962; a brilliant journalist and student of Mexican |
|
politics, he created a popular Sunday column providing unique |
|
insights into current events in Mexico and continued to write it |
|
even after his retirement in 1987; Mr. Harte helped build his |
|
family's media empire and served on the board of Harte-Hanks |
|
Communications until 1997, when the company sold all its newspapers |
|
to focus on its other businesses; and |
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Harte was also a pioneer in environmental |
|
conservation; he served on a committee that developed the first |
|
municipal regulations setting limits on oil and gas drilling in |
|
Corpus Christi Bay, which later became a model for state and federal |
|
standards, and he was a powerful advocate for the establishment of |
|
Mustang Island State Park and Padre Island National Seashore; a |
|
member of the National Audubon Society board and a former chair, he |
|
received the organization's highest award, the Audubon Medal; he |
|
joined with his brother, Houston, to donate their 66,000-acre ranch |
|
to the Nature Conservancy, and the land was subsequently added to |
|
Big Bend National Park; and |
|
WHEREAS, Through the years, Mr. Harte and his wife, Janet, |
|
made numerous anonymous donations to worthy causes, focusing on the |
|
environment, the arts, education, women's health care, and the |
|
homeless; it was revealed in 1998 that the couple had given at least |
|
$20 million to such causes, including a $1 million challenge grant |
|
to Corpus Christi Metro Ministries to avert the closing of two |
|
shelters, along with generous support for a library in Flour Bluff |
|
and a performing arts center at Texas A&M University-Corpus |
|
Christi; with characteristic vision, Mr. Harte donated $46 million |
|
in 2000 to establish the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico |
|
Studies at TAMU-Corpus Christi; its researchers have made vital |
|
contributions to marine science and have played an important, |
|
ongoing role in the response to the massive 2010 BP oil spill; when |
|
the Naval Air Station and Corpus Christi Army Depot were threatened |
|
with closure, Mr. Harte used his considerable influence to keep |
|
them open; and |
|
WHEREAS, Ed Harte left an extraordinary legacy for the people |
|
of Corpus Christi, the Lone Star State, the Gulf Coast, and beyond; |
|
although this kind, witty, and unassuming man will be deeply missed |
|
by all who were fortunate enough to know him, his tremendous |
|
devotion to environmental and charitable causes will continue to |
|
resonate in the years to come; now, therefore, be it |
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
|
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Edward H. Harte and |
|
extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
|
children, Christopher Harte, William Harte, Elizabeth Owens, and |
|
Julia Widdowson; to his brother, Houston Harte; to his nine |
|
grandchildren, his great-grandchild, and his two |
|
step-grandchildren; and to his other relatives and friends; and, be |
|
it further |
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
|
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Edward H. |
|
Harte. |
|
|
Hunter |
|
Scott |
|
Aliseda |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Speaker of the House |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 2357 was unanimously adopted by a |
|
rising vote of the House on May 30, 2011. |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
|