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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, North Texas residents are mourning the loss of Gregg |
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Hudson, president and CEO of the Dallas Zoo, who died in April 2023, |
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at the age of 64; and |
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WHEREAS, Hired to lead the zoo in 2006, Mr. Hudson oversaw |
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its transition from city ownership to a public/private partnership |
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in 2009; he worked tirelessly to ensure funding for a major |
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development, the 11-acre Giants of the Savanna habitat, which |
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opened in 2010, allowing visitors to watch the interactions of |
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elephants, giraffes, zebras, and ostriches; zoo attendance surged |
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and the annual revenue stream doubled to more than $40 million; |
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since 2015, the zoo has averaged over 1 million visitors a year; and |
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WHEREAS, Although the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted |
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attendance growth, Mr. Hudson skillfully navigated through that |
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crisis; he provided steady guidance in early 2023 when the zoo was |
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beset by a series of bizarre incidents involving vandalism and the |
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theft of animals; throughout his tenure, he emphasized increasing |
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conservation resources and education programming; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Hudson was an inspiring mentor to many in his |
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industry, and for over three decades, he was a trailblazer in |
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wildlife conservation; he served on the board of the national |
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Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in |
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Rwanda, and the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education |
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Center in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and |
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WHEREAS, Before taking the helm of the Dallas Zoo, Mr. Hudson |
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served for over 5 years as president and CEO of the Cincinnati Zoo |
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and Botanical Garden, and during his 10 years as executive director |
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and CEO of the Fort Worth Zoo, he led its privatization in the early |
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1990s; he brought to the industry experience gained in the |
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hospitality sector, through employment by hotels and the Six Flags |
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theme parks; and |
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WHEREAS, Gregg Hudson was admired not only for his visionary |
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leadership, but also for his tremendous warmth and kindness, and |
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although he will be deeply missed, his contributions will continue |
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to resonate in the years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Gregg Hudson and |
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extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his passing; 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 his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Gregg |
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Hudson. |