| 1 | 1 | | 25 LC 129 0461 |
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| 2 | 2 | | House Resolution 889 |
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| 3 | 3 | | By: Representative Holcomb of the 101 |
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| 4 | 4 | | st |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | A RESOLUTION |
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| 7 | 7 | | Honoring and commending the life, leadership, and legacy of Wyatt Thomas Johnson Jr. for |
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| 8 | 8 | | 1 |
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| 9 | 9 | | his extraordinary contributions to journalism, civic life, and public service in Georgia and2 |
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| 10 | 10 | | across the nation as well as for his resolute efforts to champion mental health awareness,3 |
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| 11 | 11 | | strengthen democratic institutions, and promote informed citizenship; and for other purposes.4 |
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| 12 | 12 | | WHEREAS, Tom Johnson, born Wyatt Thomas Johnson Jr. on September 30, 1941, in5 |
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| 13 | 13 | | Macon, Georgia, has led a life dedicated to truth, service, and compassion, rising from6 |
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| 14 | 14 | | humble beginnings to become one of the most respected figures in American journalism and7 |
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| 15 | 15 | | a transformative leader in both public and private spheres; and8 |
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| 16 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Johnson's career began as a young reporter at The Macon Telegraph, an9 |
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| 17 | 17 | | opportunity made possible by the generosity and mentorship of publisher Peyton Anderson,10 |
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| 18 | 18 | | who recognized Johnson's early dedication, talent, and integrity; and11 |
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| 19 | 19 | | WHEREAS, with the support of scholarships from Anderson, Johnson earned a journalism12 |
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| 20 | 20 | | degree from the University of Georgia and later an MBA from Harvard Business School,13 |
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| 21 | 21 | | achievements that laid the foundation for a remarkable professional life defined by purpose14 |
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| 22 | 22 | | and principle; and15 |
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| 23 | 23 | | H. R. 889 |
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| 24 | 24 | | - 1 - 25 LC 129 0461 |
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| 25 | 25 | | WHEREAS, Johnson served in the White House under President Lyndon B. Johnson as a |
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| 26 | 26 | | 16 |
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| 27 | 27 | | Special Assistant and Deputy Press Secretary, during one of the most complex and17 |
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| 28 | 28 | | consequential chapters in American history; and 18 |
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| 29 | 29 | | WHEREAS, his closeness to President Johnson and his presence at pivotal historical19 |
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| 30 | 30 | | moments deepened his lifelong commitment to public service, civil rights, and effective20 |
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| 31 | 31 | | governance; and21 |
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| 32 | 32 | | WHEREAS, transitioning from public service to journalism, Johnson went on to serve with22 |
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| 33 | 33 | | distinction as publisher and CEO of The Dallas Times Herald and later as publisher and23 |
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| 34 | 34 | | president of the Los Angeles Times, where under his stewardship the paper won six Pulitzer24 |
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| 35 | 35 | | Prizes and reached its highest levels of readership, quality, and impact; and25 |
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| 36 | 36 | | WHEREAS, in 1990, Johnson was recruited by CNN founder Ted Turner to lead the Cable26 |
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| 37 | 37 | | News Network as President during a critical era of global change, including the Gulf War and27 |
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| 38 | 38 | | the emergence of 24-hour news broadcasting; and28 |
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| 39 | 39 | | WHEREAS, under his visionary leadership, CNN expanded to a worldwide audience,29 |
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| 40 | 40 | | launched CNN International and CNN.com, and became a global standard-bearer for30 |
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| 41 | 41 | | real-time, credible journalism; and31 |
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| 42 | 42 | | WHEREAS, throughout his media career, Johnson was a steady voice of calm, accuracy, and32 |
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| 43 | 43 | | ethical responsibility, ensuring that news was not only fast but fact-based, and that journalists33 |
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| 44 | 44 | | upheld the highest standards of public trust and democratic accountability; and34 |
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| 45 | 45 | | WHEREAS, Johnson has served on a multitude of boards and foundations dedicated to35 |
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| 46 | 46 | | education, global development, civic leadership, and journalism excellence, including the36 |
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| 47 | 47 | | H. R. 889 |
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| 48 | 48 | | - 2 - 25 LC 129 0461 |
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| 49 | 49 | | Rockefeller Foundation, the Knight Foundation, the Mayo Clinic Foundation, and the |
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| 50 | 50 | | 37 |
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| 51 | 51 | | Peabody Awards Board of Jurors, as well as leadership roles with the Lyndon Baines38 |
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| 52 | 52 | | Johnson Foundation, the Trilateral Commission, and the Council on Foreign Relations; and39 |
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| 53 | 53 | | WHEREAS, despite personal achievements, Johnson has never wavered in his advocacy for40 |
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| 54 | 54 | | those often overlooked, including through his courageous public dialogue around his own41 |
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| 55 | 55 | | battle with clinical depression; and42 |
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| 56 | 56 | | WHEREAS, in sharing his experience, Johnson broke down stigma, empowered countless43 |
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| 57 | 57 | | others to seek help, and became a national advocate for improving access to mental health44 |
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| 58 | 58 | | resources; and45 |
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| 59 | 59 | | WHEREAS, Johnson has returned time and again to his Georgia roots, investing in his home46 |
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| 60 | 60 | | state through educational programs, mentoring, and civic initiatives aimed at building future47 |
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| 61 | 61 | | generations of ethical leaders and responsible journalists; and48 |
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| 62 | 62 | | WHEREAS, his legacy reflects not only professional excellence but also humility,49 |
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| 63 | 63 | | perseverance, public-mindedness, and compassion, making him an enduring role model for50 |
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| 64 | 64 | | Georgians and Americans alike.51 |
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| 65 | 65 | | NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that52 |
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| 66 | 66 | | the members of this body honor and commend Wyatt Thomas Johnson Jr. for his53 |
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| 67 | 67 | | extraordinary contributions to journalism, democracy, mental health awareness, and public54 |
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| 68 | 68 | | service, and extend their deepest appreciation for his tireless efforts to build a more informed,55 |
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| 69 | 69 | | compassionate, and just society.56 |
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| 70 | 70 | | H. R. 889 |
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| 72 | 72 | | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized |
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| 73 | 73 | | 57 |
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| 74 | 74 | | and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available to Tom Johnson and his58 |
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| 75 | 75 | | family.59 |
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| 76 | 76 | | H. R. 889 |
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| 77 | 77 | | - 4 - |
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