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SENATE RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and |
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commemorates the remarkable life of Polly Sowell, who died in |
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January of 2023 at the age of 95; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on November 3, 1927, in Lynchburg, Virginia, |
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Polly Sowell was raised in Houston and earned a bachelor's degree |
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from Sweetbriar College in Virginia before marrying and moving to |
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McAllen; inclined towards activism, Polly served on the library |
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board, presided over the Junior Service League, and founded the |
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Valley Music Festival and the Basic Education Council; and |
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WHEREAS, A proficient administrator and capable leader, |
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Polly quickly rose to prominence in state politics; she was |
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elected to the State Republican Executive Committee in 1960, and |
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in 1972, she was elected vice chairman of the Republican Party of |
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Texas; President Nixon appointed her to the Inter-American |
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Commission for Women, and she represented the United States at |
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the commission's conference in Bogota, Colombia; and |
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WHEREAS, After she moved to Austin in 1979, Polly became |
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the director of the Governor's Office for Volunteer Services and |
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served as deputy chief of staff for Governor Bill Clements; she |
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founded and served as president and executive director of the |
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Texas Women's Alliance, a group of independent conservative |
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women leaders who led trade missions to Spain, Japan, and |
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Switzerland and published reports on the Equal Rights Amendment, |
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economic growth, venture capitalism, higher education, and other |
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current issues; and |
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WHEREAS, A brilliant and elegant woman with exceptional |
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foresight, Polly was sought out by elected leaders at the highest |
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levels for her wise counsel; she was appointed by President |
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George H. W. Bush to serve on the Defense Advisory Committee on |
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Women in the Services, and she served as appointments manager to |
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Governor George W. Bush and to Governor Rick Perry; in addition |
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to her political pursuits, Polly founded and directed Texas Works |
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Together, a program that trained mentors to help mothers |
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receiving public assistance to further their education and |
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engage in job training; and |
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WHEREAS, Polly remained active in her community and in |
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public service well after her retirement, and she served on the |
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Texas Commission on the Arts throughout a six-year term and |
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served on the Humanities Texas Board; in 2013, Polly relocated |
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from Austin to The Woodlands, near Houston, to be closer to her |
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devoted daughter, Susan; and |
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WHEREAS, Through her outstanding accomplishments and her |
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untiring commitment to helping others, Polly made a positive |
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difference in the lives of innumerable people and helped to pave |
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the way for future generations of women to meet our state's |
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challenges with diplomacy and grace; she leaves an inspiring |
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legacy of service and advocacy, and her memory will be dearly |
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cherished by her loved ones and by all who were privileged to |
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share in her life; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved |
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family of Polly Sowell; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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her family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
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Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
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memory of Polly Sowell. |