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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Gene Olafsen was honored at the second annual |
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Exemplary Women of Irving High Tea event on November 4, 2012, in |
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tribute to her dedicated efforts in behalf of her community; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Olafsen moved to Irving in 1968 with her four |
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children and her first husband, Edward Demonbreun, who passed away |
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in 1982; during her early years in the city, she volunteered with |
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the Irving Little Theatre; for the company's production of Mame, |
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she personally sewed 30 costumes, which represented some of the |
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first stitches in what would become a long tapestry of support for |
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the arts; and |
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WHEREAS, After a successful career at American Airlines, |
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Mrs. Olafsen retired in 1987, which allowed her additional time to |
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devote to cultural activities; she became a charter member of the |
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Irving Community Theatre Guild in 1989, and she has provided |
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thoughtful guidance to the organization in the capacities of vice |
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president, treasurer, board member, and co-chair of elegance and |
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entertainment, as well as in her current role as president; |
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moreover, she played a vital part in planning the shows Encore I, |
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Encore II, and An Evening with Louise Mandrell, and she has thrice |
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served as co-chair of the Mardi Gras Party, an event for which she |
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and her second husband, William Olafsen, were selected as king and |
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queen in 2008; in recognition of her work, the guild honored her |
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with its Star Award in 2004; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Olafsen's enthusiasm and determination have |
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also been of great assistance to the Irving Symphony League; she |
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served with that group from 1990 until 2009 and was co-chair for |
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three ISL balls; this gifted organizer oversaw registration for the |
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2002 conference of the Texas Association for Symphony Orchestras, |
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just one of many sterling contributions that garnered her the |
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league's Distinguished Service Award; for many of these projects, |
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as well as for the events she arranged for the Irving Community |
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Theatre Guild, she received vital help from Mr. Olafsen, her |
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daughters Donna and Denise, and her son-in-law John Femrite; and |
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WHEREAS, Imbued with boundless community spirit, Mrs. |
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Olafsen has shared her time and talents with the Lyric Stage League, |
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serving on the board of directors and the annual fund-raising |
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committee; in addition, she has co-chaired two Canalfest galas and |
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has aided the Irving Cares Christmas charity initiative; other |
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groups that have benefited from her membership include the Irving |
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Hospital Foundation, the Irving Heritage Society, the Las Colinas |
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Women's Association, and Friends of the Irving Public Library; her |
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myriad endeavors have earned her the respect and appreciation of |
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countless people, and she was the recipient of the High Spirited |
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Citizen Award from the Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau in |
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August 2006; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, Gene Olafsen has been a tireless |
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champion for the theater and musical arts and numerous other worthy |
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causes, and she may take justifiable pride in the many ways that she |
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has helped enhance the quality of life in the Irving area; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Gene Olafsen on her selection as |
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one of the Exemplary Women of Irving and extend to her sincere best |
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wishes for continued success in her important work; 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 Mrs. Olafsen as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |