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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Through his innovation and philanthropy, Graham |
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Weston is helping to make San Antonio an even better place in which |
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to live and work; and |
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WHEREAS, Born and raised in the area, Mr. Weston has been an |
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entrepreneur since seventh grade, when he formed a business |
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marketing organic pork; he continued creating new ventures during |
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high school and later as a student at Texas A&M University; after |
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graduating, he entered the real estate market, and at the age of 28, |
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he led a group of investors to acquire and develop a 30-story office |
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building in downtown San Antonio; now known as the Weston Centre, |
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the property houses some of the city's best-known companies; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Weston and a partner later provided the original |
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capital for a business idea pitched by three Trinity University |
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students; the resulting company, Rackspace, hosts computing and |
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cloud computing services and has become a global leader in the |
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industry; as the former CEO and current chairman, Mr. Weston has |
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overseen Rackspace's growth in the Alamo City, where today it |
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employs more than 4,000 people; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan is also involved in numerous |
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projects to revitalize the city's urban core; he is one of the |
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tri-chairs of the SA2020 community process, a long-term planning |
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initiative to address education, transportation, and downtown |
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development issues in the city, and he cofounded Geekdom, a |
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workspace where technologists, developers, entrepreneurs, and |
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creative thinkers collaborate to build new businesses; and |
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WHEREAS, Equally admired for his philanthropy, Mr. Weston |
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converted one of his vacant properties into a temporary shelter for |
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more than 2,500 refugees of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; moreover, |
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he and Rackspace employees have donated $2 million in grants toward |
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improving local schools, providing supplies, and funding mentoring |
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programs, including SparkEd, a series of weekend camps for seventh |
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and eighth graders focused on technology and entrepreneurialism; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Weston is the recipient of many honors, among |
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them the 2011 International Citizen of the Year Award from the World |
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Affairs Council of San Antonio and the 2011 Conn Family |
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Entrepreneurial Leadership Award; in addition, he was selected as |
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Regional Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young and named a "Best |
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Boss" by Fortune Small Business magazine; and |
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WHEREAS, Graham Weston's enthusiasm, drive, and dedication |
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to the city he's proud to call home have immeasurably benefited his |
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fellow residents, and he is an inspiration to future leaders |
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throughout the Lone Star State; 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 Graham Weston for his outstanding |
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contributions to San Antonio and extend to him sincere best wishes |
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for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Weston as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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Martinez Fischer |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1145 was adopted by the House on April |
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10, 2013, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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