| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION No. 1702 |
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| 2 | 2 | | A RESOLUTION honoring the life, career and trailblazing achievements of Kansas icon Ed Dwight. |
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| 3 | 3 | | WHEREAS, Ed Dwight was born in Kansas City, Kansas, on September 9, 1933, rising to meteoric heights |
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| 4 | 4 | | as the first African American selected for NASA's early astronaut corps, a celebrated sculptor and the oldest person |
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| 5 | 5 | | to reach space; and |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Dwight's parents emphasized education and fought for equal opportunities for |
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| 7 | 7 | | their son, who became the first African American graduate of Bishop Ward High School in 1951; |
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| 8 | 8 | | and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Dwight earned an associate's degree in engineering from Kansas City Junior |
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| 10 | 10 | | College and enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1953; and |
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| 11 | 11 | | WHEREAS, Dwight rose to the rank of Captain, flying high performance jets, training at |
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| 12 | 12 | | the aerospace research pilot school and serving as a test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base; and |
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| 13 | 13 | | WHEREAS, While serving proudly in the Air Force, Dwight earned a bachelor's degree in |
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| 14 | 14 | | aeronautical engineering from Arizona State University; and |
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| 15 | 15 | | WHEREAS, Dwight was a trailblazer as the first African American astronaut candidate, advancing to the |
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| 16 | 16 | | second phase of the training course in the face of great pressure and prejudice; and |
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| 17 | 17 | | WHEREAS, In 1963, despite Dwight's accomplishments and qualifications, he was not |
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| 18 | 18 | | selected for Astronaut Group 3, and resigned from the Air Force in 1966, after a highly |
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| 19 | 19 | | distinguished career; and |
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| 20 | 20 | | WHEREAS, Dwight went on to earn a master's degree in sculpture from the University of Denver in 1977 |
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| 21 | 21 | | and became a celebrated sculptor, recognized worldwide for the creation of works that tell African American history, |
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| 22 | 22 | | including "Evolution of Jazz" and a sculpture of President Obama's first inauguration; and |
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| 23 | 23 | | WHEREAS, On May 19, 2024, Ed Dwight, a man who personifies the Kansas state motto Ad |
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| 24 | 24 | | Astra Per Aspera, became the oldest person to travel to space, breaking the record previously |
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| 25 | 25 | | held by actor William Shatner; and |
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| 26 | 26 | | WHEREAS, Kansans applaud and celebrate Dwight's contributions to the historical, artistic |
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| 27 | 27 | | and social fabric of Kansas and the nation as he continues to create and inspire from his studio |
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| 28 | 28 | | and gallery in Denver, Colorado: Now, therefore, |
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| 29 | 29 | | |
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| 30 | 30 | | Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas: That we honor the life, career and trailblazing |
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| 31 | 31 | | achievements of Kansas icon Ed Dwight; and |
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| 32 | 32 | | Be it further resolved: That we seek to permanently display Ed Dwight's art in a prominent place in or |
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| 33 | 33 | | around the Capitol to forever commemorate the brilliant work of a great Kansan; and |
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| 34 | 34 | | Be it further resolved: That the Secretary of the Senate shall send one enrolled copy of this resolution to Ed |
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| 35 | 35 | | Dwight and Senators Haley and Baumgardner. |
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| 36 | 36 | | Senate Resolution No. 1702 was sponsored by Senators David Haley and Molly Baumgardner. |
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| 37 | 37 | | I hereby certify that the above RESOLUTION originated in the SENATE, and was adopted by that body |
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| 38 | 38 | | __________________________________________ |
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| 39 | 39 | | |
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| 40 | 40 | | ___________________________________________ |
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| 41 | 41 | | President of the Senate. |
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| 42 | 42 | | ___________________________________________ |
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| 43 | 43 | | Secretary of the Senate. |
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