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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The pioneering Lufkin television station KTRE is |
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marking its 60th anniversary in 2015; and |
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WHEREAS, Headed by E. L. Kurth, the Forest Capital |
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Broadcasting Company obtained a television license from the Federal |
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Communications Commission in 1953 and began construction on a TV |
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station with the same call letters as its radio station, KTRE; when |
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it went on the air on August 31, 1955, KTRE-TV became the first |
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satellite station in the country; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, the ABC affiliate expanded its |
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audience through a number of popular programs, including the HH |
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Ranch Show, Howdy Doody, and The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok; the |
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station was purchased in 1964 by Lucille Buford, who made it a |
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satellite of Tyler-based KLTV and converted it to color broadcasts; |
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owned by Raycom Media since 2006, KTRE began broadcasting a |
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digital-only signal in 2009 and airing programs in the high |
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definition format in 2013; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, the award-winning station reaches an |
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audience of approximately 400,000 people in 29 counties; it |
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benefits from the able leadership of vice president and general |
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manager Pat Stacey and station manager Starla Bickerstaff, as well |
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as from the hard work of its dedicated staff; and |
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WHEREAS, For six decades, since the dawn of television |
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broadcasting in East Texas, KTRE has been a reliable source of news, |
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weather, sports, and entertainment for area residents, and the |
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station continues to enrich and enlighten its community; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 60th anniversary of KTRE-TV and |
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extend to all those associated with the station sincere best wishes |
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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 KTRE as an expression of high regard by the Texas House |
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of Representatives. |