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A RESOLUTION recognizing President Tori Murden McClure of Spalding 1
University on the occasion of her retirement. 2
WHEREAS, Tori Murden McClure has been the President of Spalding University 3
in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, since 2010; and 4
WHEREAS, under the leadership of Tori Murden McClure, Spalding University 5
was certified as the world’s first compassionate university; and 6
WHEREAS, Tori Murden McClure is a former Board Chair of the National 7
Outdoor Leadership School and former Vice Chair and Interim Chair of the NCAA 8
Board of Governors, the top governing body in collegiate athletics; and 9
WHEREAS, during her career, she has also worked as a chaplain at a Boston 10
hospital, the director of a Louisville women’s shelter, a policy assistant in the Louisville 11
Mayor’s Office, and the first full-time employee of the Muhammad Ali Center; and 12
WHEREAS, Tori Murden McClure is best-known as the first woman and first 13
American to row a boat solo across the Atlantic Ocean, having accomplished the feat in 14
1999 after 81 days at sea; and 15
WHEREAS, she is the author of "A Pearl in the Storm: How I Found My Heart in 16
the Middle of the Ocean," which details her life and journey across the Atlantic and is the 17
basis of a stage musical, called "Row," which made its world premiere at the prestigious 18
Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts in the summer of 2021; and 19
WHEREAS, Tori Murden McClure was also the first woman and first American to 20
ski to the geographic South Pole during a 50-day, 750-mile expedition; and 21
WHEREAS, Tori Murden McClure holds a bachelor’s degree from Smith College, 22
a Master of Divinity from Harvard University, a law degree from the University of 23
Louisville, and a Master of Fine Arts in writing from Spalding University; 24
NOW, THEREFORE, 25
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 26
Kentucky: 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 2479
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Section 1. The members of the Senate hereby join Senator Gerald Neal in 1
applauding the outstanding accomplishments of Tori Murden McClure as an explorer, 2
author, and the President of Spalding University, congratulating her on her retirement, 3
and wishing her good fortune in all future adventures. 4
Section 2. The Clerk of the Senate shall transmit a copy of this Resolution to 5
Senator Gerald Neal for presentation to Tori Murden McClure. 6