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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Michael Whitney McKinney served the Lone Star State |
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and its business community with the utmost distinction, and his |
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passing on February 15, 2012, brought an immeasurable loss to all |
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who were fortunate enough to know him; and |
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WHEREAS, A San Angelo native, Mike McKinney earned his |
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bachelor's degree in government from The University of Texas at |
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Austin; in 1968, he began his career in public service working for |
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Preston Smith, first in the office of the lieutenant governor and |
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later as Governor Smith's special assistant and appointments |
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secretary; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. McKinney went on to make further invaluable |
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contributions to the state as assistant to the executive director |
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of the Texas Water Quality Board and then as assistant |
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administrator of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission; he became |
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vice president of industry affairs for the Wholesale Beer |
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Distributors of Texas in 1984, and he was named its chief executive |
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officer five years later; he led WBDT with enormous skill and energy |
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for more than two decades, and he spent so much time observing the |
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floor activities of the Texas House of Representatives that a chair |
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in the gallery came to be regarded as his; and |
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WHEREAS, Such publications as the Quorum Report and Capitol |
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Inside recognized Mr. McKinney's diligence and effectiveness, and |
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in 1996, the TABC presented him with its Bert Ford Commendation; |
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moreover, he received both the Presidential Award for Legislative |
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Excellence and the President's Industry Service Award from the |
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National Beer Wholesalers Association; and |
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WHEREAS, Dedicated to preserving our state's rich heritage, |
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Mr. McKinney served on the board of the Bob Bullock Texas State |
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History Museum Foundation, including as its president from 2005 to |
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2006, and he was a member of the State Cemetery Board and the board |
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of Friends of the Governor's Mansion; he actively supported |
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improvements to the mansion as a member of the Sam Houston Society |
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as well; and |
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WHEREAS, For years during legislative sessions, Mike |
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McKinney was a near-constant presence in his favorite chair in the |
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house gallery, and it is appropriate to pay special tribute to him |
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with the installation of an engraved plaque on that chair; in |
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accordance with the provisions of Chapter 443, Government Code, the |
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State Preservation Board is charged with approving all changes to |
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the Capitol and its contents; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby direct the State Preservation Board to install a |
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plaque that is engraved with the words "In memory of Michael |
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W. McKinney, a great Texan and protector of the Code and |
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Constitution" on the specific house gallery chair long occupied by |
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Mr. McKinney; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the chief clerk of the house forward an |
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official copy of this resolution to the executive director and |
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members of the State Preservation Board. |