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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, George P. Mitchell is being honored with a |
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History-Making Texan Award by the Texas State History Museum |
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Foundation on February 27, 2013, in tribute to his exemplary |
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contributions to the oil and gas industry; and |
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WHEREAS, The History-Making Texan Award is given annually to |
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those Texans who have made an extraordinary impact on the state and |
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nation; among the recipients of this accolade are former U.S. |
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presidents and state governors, as well as renowned business |
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leaders, scientists, entertainers, and media figures; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Galveston, Mr. Mitchell graduated from |
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Texas A&M University, earning a degree in petroleum engineering |
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with an emphasis in geology; he served his country as a captain in |
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the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II, after which he |
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joined a newly formed oil exploration firm as an engineering and |
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geology consultant; later, he became a partner in the firm, before |
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he took over the role of president in 1959; and |
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WHEREAS, Under his forward-thinking leadership, the business |
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evolved into Mitchell Energy & Development Corporation, one of the |
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largest independent oil and gas producers in the nation; the |
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company merged with Devon Energy Corporation in 2002; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Mitchell was also responsible for one of the |
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most significant breakthroughs in the energy industry when he and |
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his staff discovered a way of extracting natural gas from shale |
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beds; this new method, now known as "fracking," created a massive |
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expansion in domestic natural gas supplies; and |
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WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan's drive to innovate led to |
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success in other fields as well; in 1974, his venture into real |
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estate culminated in a 25,000-acre master-planned city north of |
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Houston, The Woodlands, considered an outstanding example of |
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environmentally conscious development; today, the community boasts |
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a population of 100,000 and an almost unprecedented amount of green |
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space in the form of greenbelts and forest preserves; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Mitchell and his wife, the late Cynthia Woods |
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Mitchell, shared a commitment to making a positive difference in |
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the world, and together they established the Cynthia & George |
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Mitchell Foundation, which has pledged more than $400 million in |
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support of education, the arts, and scientific research on clean |
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energy and sustainability; they also dedicated themselves to |
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restoring the historic Strand District in Mr. Mitchell's hometown |
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of Galveston and played a key role in reviving the city's Mardi Gras |
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celebration, which now draws some 500,000 revelers annually; and |
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WHEREAS, A visionary entrepreneur in energy and land |
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development, George Mitchell may reflect with great pride on his |
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record of achievement as he joins an elite group of distinguished |
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Texans who have received this prestigious award; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the 83rd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby congratulate George P. Mitchell on his receipt of a |
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History-Making Texan Award from the Texas State History Museum |
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Foundation and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Mitchell as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives and Senate. |
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Eiland |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.C.R. No. 107 was adopted by the House on |
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April 24, 2013, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.C.R. No. 107 was adopted by the Senate on |
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April 30, 2013, by a viva-voce vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |