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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 life of Ronald Edward Dugger, who died on May |
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27, 2025, at the age of 95; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Chicago on April 16, 1930, Ronnie Dugger |
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grew up in San Antonio and gained an interest in reporting and |
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politics at an early age; he began working as a sportswriter at |
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just 13 years old, and he continued his pursuit of truthful |
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journalism as an editor for the student newspaper at The |
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University of Texas at Austin; there, he majored in government |
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and economics, completed his bachelor's degree, and met his wife, |
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Jeanne Williams, with whom he shared 25 years of marriage and had |
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two children, Celia Dugger of New York City and Gary Dugger of |
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Carmel, California; he also spent time studying political theory |
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and economics at the University of Oxford; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Dugger was just 24 years old when he was |
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recruited to be the first editor of The Texas Observer, from its |
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founding in 1954 until 1961, after which he continued to |
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contribute as a writer and publisher; he moved to the Northeast, |
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and while living there, he wrote multiple books chronicling |
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notable figures in American history, including Presidents Lyndon |
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Johnson and Ronald Reagan, and married Patricia Blake in 1985; he |
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also cofounded Alliance for Democracy and contributed articles |
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to such major publications as The Nation, The New Yorker, and The |
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Atlantic; and |
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WHEREAS, Ronnie later returned to Austin and again |
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immersed himself in his community, Texas politics, and |
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journalism; he has received numerous recognitions for his career |
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achievements, including the George Polk Career Award from Long |
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Island University in 2011 and induction into The Daily Texan Hall |
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of Fame in 2015; throughout his time as a journalist, he taught at |
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institutions of higher education and lectured nationwide to |
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advocate civil rights protections and public services; and |
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WHEREAS, Ronnie's two children and his six grandchildren |
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were a source of pride and joy to him; his steadfast belief in the |
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power of the press has inspired beloved family members to join |
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the profession, and his dedication to progressive journalism and |
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his passion for equality in the Lone Star State have made a |
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positive impact in the lives of innumerable people; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby extend sincere |
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condolences to the bereaved family of Ronald Edward Dugger; and, |
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be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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his 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 Ronnie Dugger. |