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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Noted musician Ray Benson has given generously of |
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his time and talents to promote water conservation, a top priority |
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in the drought-plagued Lone Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, An Austin resident since the early 1970s, Mr. Benson |
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leads the band Asleep at the Wheel, long the standard-bearer for |
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western swing and Bob Wills's music; he has written a host of |
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popular songs, among them "Dance With Who Brung You," "Texas Me and |
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You," and "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read"; and |
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WHEREAS, This civic-minded Texan has championed |
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environmental causes since the 1990s, when he became involved with |
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Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve; in addition to serving on its |
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board, he has performed at a number of benefits in its behalf; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2008, Mr. Benson joined the Austin Water Utility |
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campaign to encourage water conservation; he composed a catchy |
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jingle titled "Observe & Conserve," advising consumers to "watch |
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your water like it was your son or daughter," and his sonorous |
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baritone has reached innumerable television viewers with this |
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urgent message; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Benson has continued to serve as a voice for |
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water conservation, sharing his knowledge of simple actions that |
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can save water in daily life; moreover, he sets an inspiring example |
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of environmental stewardship through his own implementation of such |
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measures as a rainwater collection system; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply appreciative of the state's natural beauty, |
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Mr. Benson served as the narrator for Wildflowers: Seeds of |
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History, a 2011 documentary for public television station KLRU and |
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the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center; he has also lent his |
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support to a number of worthy causes in the Central Texas area; a |
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founder and board member of the Health Alliance for Austin |
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Musicians and the SIMS Foundation, he has served on the boards of |
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KLRU/Austin City Limits, St. David's Community Healthcare |
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Foundation, and the Texas Cultural Trust, as well as on the advisory |
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boards of Austin Lyric Opera and Ballet Austin; in October 2011, he |
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produced a star-studded benefit concert that raised more than $1 |
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million in one evening for the victims of area wildfires; and |
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WHEREAS, The recipient of numerous musical accolades, among |
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them nine Grammy Awards, Mr. Benson has also been recognized for his |
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contributions to the wider community; he was named the 2011 Texan of |
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the Year by the Texas Legislative Conference; and |
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WHEREAS, The availability of water is crucial to the |
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well-being of all Texans and to the prosperity of the Lone Star |
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State, and through his commitment to the cause of conservation, Ray |
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Benson is helping to build a brighter future for generations to |
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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 honor Ray Benson for his dedicated efforts to |
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promote water conservation and extend to him sincere best wishes |
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for continued success with this important endeavor; 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 Mr. Benson as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |