H.R. No. 2034
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, M. Cass Wheeler retired as chief executive officer
of the American Heart Association in 2008, concluding a
distinguished tenure with the organization that spanned 35 years;
and
WHEREAS, A native Texan, Cass Wheeler studied business at The
University of Texas at Austin, and after graduation, he worked for
the American Cancer Society and also as a stockbroker in Dallas; in
1973, Mr. Wheeler joined the Texas affiliate of the American Heart
Association, where he became vice president for field operations
and later executive vice president, and in 1982, he made the
transition to the organization's National Center in Dallas as its
chief operating officer; by 1996, he was named senior vice
president for field operations, and the following year he took on
the role of CEO; and
WHEREAS, Under the skilled leadership of Mr. Wheeler, the
association merged its 56 state and metropolitan affiliates into
eight regions, adopting a single corporate structure, and its
revenue increased by $250 million; moreover, Mr. Wheeler oversaw
several new initiatives, including the Go Red For Women campaign to
raise awareness about heart disease, the Power to End Stroke
targeted at African Americans, and the Alliance for a Healthier
Generation, a partnership with the William J. Clinton Foundation
aimed at fighting childhood obesity; and
WHEREAS, Despite his busy professional life, Mr. Wheeler
published the book, You've Gotta Have Heart: Achieving Purpose
Beyond Profit in the Social Sector, and he was active on the boards
of the National Human Services Assembly, the Partnership for
Prevention, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the Independent
Sector, and Research!America; in addition, he was a member of
various committees for the American Society of Association
Executives, a board chair of the National Health Council, and a
co-convener of the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector, and he was
appointed by former President Clinton to serve on the Commission on
Improving Economic Opportunity in Communities Dependent on Tobacco
Production While Protecting Public Health; and
WHEREAS, The recipient of numerous accolades, Mr. Wheeler was
asked to carry the Olympic torch as it traveled through Dallas
before the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, and he was given the
Essence of Leadership Award for Excellence in National Executive
Leadership from the National Human Services Assembly; he was also
included in the NonProfit Times Power and Influence Top 50 list for
three years in a row beginning in 2006, and he has been a guest
lecturer and speaker at Harvard University, UT Dallas, the
Georgetown University Law Center, the University of Mississippi,
and UT Austin; and
WHEREAS, Today Mr. Wheeler continues to participate on the
boards of the American Legacy Foundation and the Paul G. Rogers
Society for Global Health Research and on the advisory committees
of the UCSF Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education and
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; he has also
launched a consulting practice, and he resides in Walburg with his
wife, DeLisa, and their family; and
WHEREAS, With the utmost dedication and a genuine concern for
his fellow citizens, Cass Wheeler has made lasting contributions to
the American Heart Association and to the entire nonprofit
industry, and he has garnered the respect and admiration of all who
are fortunate enough to know him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby honor M. Cass Wheeler on his outstanding career
and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success and
happiness; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Wheeler as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Crownover
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2034 was adopted by the House on May
19, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House