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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 John Douglas Thornton, a widely |
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respected leader in nonprofit journalism, who died March 29, |
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2025, at the age of 59; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Wichita on April 9, 1965, John was a |
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bright young learner who went on to attend Trinity University and |
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to earn a master's degree in business administration from |
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Stanford University; and |
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WHEREAS, John began his career by working at McKinsey and |
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Company and earned esteem overseeing investments in software |
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startups as a managing partner at Austin Ventures; inspired to |
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help his company begin investing in newspapers and to address the |
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decline of the media and news industry, John cofounded the Texas |
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Tribune in 2008 with a mission to establish a fair, honest, and |
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reliable nonprofit news outlet devoted to engaging Texans and |
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empowering them to be active participants in their democracy; and |
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WHEREAS, A transformative success, the Texas Tribune |
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quickly became a model for excellence in American nonprofit |
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journalism; John helped to guide many similar fledgling news |
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publications across the nation, and in 2018, he cofounded the |
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American Journalism Project, an organization that has since |
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directed the establishment of and provided funding for 50 |
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nonprofit news rooms in 36 states; and |
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WHEREAS, John was a trusted mentor to numerous industry |
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professionals, and he was admired by his colleagues, friends, and |
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loved ones for his sharp wit, his boundless generosity, and his |
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unwavering commitment to promoting a thriving democracy; he will |
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be greatly missed by countless people, most of all by his |
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cherished wife, Erin Thornton, and his stepsons, Wyatt and Wade |
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Driscoll; and |
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WHEREAS, John Thornton was an exemplary citizen and a |
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visionary leader in nonprofit journalism whose contributions to |
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the field have made a positive and lasting impact across the Lone |
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Star State and beyond; his legacy will continue to benefit Texans |
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for generations to come, and he leaves behind memories that will |
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long be treasured by all who were privileged to share in his life; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th |
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Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved |
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family of John Douglas Thornton; and, 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 John Thornton. |