81R18799 JGH-D
By: Vaught H.R. No. 1113
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Dr. Mary Ellen Weber of Dallas has contributed much
to the nation and the Lone Star State as an astronaut, scientist,
and academic administrator; and
WHEREAS, A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Weber earned her
bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Purdue University in
1984 and her doctorate in physical chemistry from the University of
California at Berkeley in 1988; she subsequently also received a
master's degree in business administration from Southern Methodist
University in 2002; over the course of her career as a scientist and
engineer, she has received a patent and published eight scientific
papers, and she has done important work on computer chips with Texas
Instruments, Applied Materials, and the SEMATECH consortium; and
WHEREAS, In 1992, Dr. Weber was selected to become a member of
the 14th NASA astronaut group; the 30th woman to fly in space and
one of the youngest astronauts in history, she served on two space
shuttle missions, logging more than 450 hours and circling the
earth 297 times; on her first mission, she helped to launch a $200
million communications satellite, and on her second, she helped to
install vital equipment on the International Space Station; and
WHEREAS, While at NASA, Dr. Weber also participated in
critical launch, landing, and testing operations at the Kennedy
Space Center, tested shuttle flight software, and assisted in
developing training protocols and research facilities for the space
station; in addition, she has helped to commercialize space
technology, worked as the NASA legislative affairs liaison in
Washington, D.C., served as chair of the procurement board for the
Biotechnology Program contractor, and served on a NASA advisory
committee charged with counseling the agency on future
technologies; and
WHEREAS, Since leaving NASA in 2002, Dr. Weber has become
vice president of government affairs at The University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center, where she oversees appropriations of
more than $160 million in annual funding; deeply involved in the
community, she has served on the boards of the Museum of Natural
History and The Science Place, and she is a member of the Dallas
Committee on Foreign Relations; and
WHEREAS, This dynamic woman is a champion skydiver, with 12
silver and bronze medals from the U.S. National Skydiving
Championships to her credit, as well as an instrument-rated pilot,
an avid golfer, and a scuba diver; moreover, she is a popular
motivational speaker; and
WHEREAS, The State of Texas is proud and fortunate to claim
this gifted individual as a citizen, and it is a privilege to
recognize her continuing exceptional record of accomplishment;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby commend Dr. Mary Ellen Weber on her many
impressive achievements and extend to her sincere best wishes for
continued success and happiness; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Dr. Weber as an expression of high regard from the
Texas House of Representatives.