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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Driscoll Children's Hospital of Corpus Christi |
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celebrated its 60th anniversary on April 2, 2013, with the |
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dedication of a historical marker honoring its founder, Clara |
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Driscoll; and |
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WHEREAS, A generous gift from Driscoll Foundation trustee Joe |
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Fulton and his wife, Fran, the marker celebrates the life of an |
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illustrious Texas businesswoman, philanthropist, and historic |
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preservationist; Clara Driscoll was born in St. Mary's, near |
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present-day Bayside, on April 2, 1881, to a family already |
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established in South Texas for half a century; often called the |
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"Savior of the Alamo" for her instrumental role in the purchase of |
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the famous mission when it was slated for demolition in the early |
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1900s, she later donated her home in Austin to the Texas Fine Arts |
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Association for use as a museum and served as vice chair of the |
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Texas Centennial Exposition executive board; Clara Driscoll also |
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took a keen interest in politics and served for 16 years as the |
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Democratic Party's national committeewoman from Texas; at her death |
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in 1945, she bequeathed most of her fortune for the establishment of |
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a children's hospital in Corpus Christi; and |
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WHEREAS, Driscoll Children's Hospital opened with 25 beds in |
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1953 and originally served a five-county area in the Coastal Bend; |
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today, this exceptional institution has grown to 189 beds and |
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provides treatment to children in 31 South Texas counties; each |
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year, Driscoll admits some 6,500 children for inpatient care, more |
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than 3,500 for day surgery, approximately 40,000 for emergency |
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care, and 132,000 for outpatient care; and |
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WHEREAS, To further its mission of providing high-quality |
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medical services for newborns, infants, and children, the hospital |
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is embarking on a $12 million emergency department renovation that |
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will increase its capacity to treat life-threatening injuries; and |
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WHEREAS, Driscoll Children's Hospital is an asset of |
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immeasurable value to the citizens of South Texas, and it is a |
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privilege to recognize both the hospital and its founder during |
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this milestone year; 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 Clara Driscoll and Driscoll Children's |
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Hospital on the occasion of the hospital's 60th anniversary and |
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extend to the hospital's physicians, nurses, administrators, and |
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staff sincere best wishes for continued success in their vital |
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endeavors; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Driscoll Children's Hospital as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |