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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Ken Kramer retired as executive director of the Lone |
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Star Chapter of the Sierra Club on July 31, 2012, concluding a |
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notable career with that organization that spanned more than three |
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decades; and |
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WHEREAS, A native Texan, Mr. Kramer served his country as a |
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member of the U.S. Army before earning a doctoral degree in |
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political science from Rice University; he subsequently worked as a |
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professor at San Angelo State University and Texas A&M University |
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and became involved with the Sierra Club's Lone Star Chapter along |
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the way; he served as the group's legislative chair and as a member |
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of the executive committee, and he ultimately left academia in 1982 |
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to focus on environmental advocacy; he was the chapter's contract |
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lobbyist until 1989 when he was hired as its first director; and |
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WHEREAS, Under his skillful stewardship, the Lone Star |
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Chapter became a model of organizational strength and effective |
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representation, serving as a staunch advocate for improved air |
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quality and state parks and as an important resource regarding |
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state water policy; Mr. Kramer established a long and wide-ranging |
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list of noteworthy conservation achievements, including his |
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successful efforts to encourage the state to retain ownership of |
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the remote 20,000-acre Devils River State Natural Area; his |
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guidance also paved the way toward the reduced use of coal as a |
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power source and Texas' emergence as a national leader in renewable |
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energy production; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Kramer continues to contribute to the |
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environmental cause as a member of the Water Conservation Advisory |
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Council, the Advisory Council for the Environmental Science |
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Institute at The University of Texas at Austin, and the board of the |
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Texas Water Foundation; his accomplishments further include |
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serving as editor of The Living Waters of Texas, a volume of essays |
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and photographs about our state's water features; and |
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WHEREAS, Known for his insightful knowledge of policy, Ken |
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Kramer is admired by colleagues as a wise strategist who keeps his |
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humor in spite of the challenges; he has dedicated his career to |
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preserving the Lone Star State's natural resources and to working |
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for clean air, water, and land on behalf of its citizens, and his |
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efforts will continue to make a positive difference in the lives of |
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Texans for years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Ken Kramer on his retirement as |
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executive director of the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club and |
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extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Kramer as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |