| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 2531 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, Philip Hayes of Lindale received a $150,000 |
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| 6 | 6 | | scholarship by winning the History Whiz Kids Debate at the National |
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| 7 | 7 | | Constitution Center in Philadelphia in August 2008; and |
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| 8 | 8 | | WHEREAS, This first annual national debate competition was |
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| 9 | 9 | | sponsored by Now Debate This, an online educational program |
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| 10 | 10 | | dedicated to involving high school students in creatively exploring |
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| 11 | 11 | | American history and civics and the way they affect contemporary |
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| 12 | 12 | | issues; and |
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| 13 | 13 | | WHEREAS, Now a senior at Lindale High School, Mr. Hayes was |
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| 14 | 14 | | one of the competition's 16 semifinalists, chosen from more than |
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| 15 | 15 | | 200 contestants who submitted videos on YouTube; and |
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| 16 | 16 | | WHEREAS, The topic for the debate asked whether George |
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| 17 | 17 | | Washington or Abraham Lincoln was the better president; arguing on |
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| 18 | 18 | | behalf on George Washington, Mr. Hayes was chosen as the winner by |
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| 19 | 19 | | the audience at the National Constitution Center and by viewers |
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| 20 | 20 | | casting their votes online; his victory was announced and his |
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| 21 | 21 | | scholarship presented to him the day after the debate on the Fox and |
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| 22 | 22 | | Friends television show; and |
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| 23 | 23 | | WHEREAS, The son of Ron and Janet Hayes, Mr. Hayes has been |
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| 24 | 24 | | active throughout his high school years as a member of the Speech |
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| 25 | 25 | | and Debate Club, the school band, and the LHS Young Republicans |
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| 26 | 26 | | Club; he is also president of the Lindale Library Teen Advisory |
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| 27 | 27 | | Board and an Eagle Scout; and |
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| 28 | 28 | | WHEREAS, This notable young Texan's skills as a speaker and |
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| 29 | 29 | | debater have previously been recognized with a third place win in |
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| 30 | 30 | | the University Interscholastic League 2008 Lincoln-Douglas Debate |
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| 31 | 31 | | and a second place win in the National Sons of the American |
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| 32 | 32 | | Revolution Oratory Contest, and he was invited to address the |
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| 33 | 33 | | Republican National Convention in St. Paul in September 2008; in |
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| 34 | 34 | | the spring of 2009, Mr. Hayes earned the distinction of being |
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| 35 | 35 | | elected to the city council of Hideaway at the age of 18, and he was |
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| 36 | 36 | | sworn into office on May 12; and |
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| 37 | 37 | | WHEREAS, Philip Hayes is an outstanding orator whose |
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| 38 | 38 | | knowledge of history and ability to communicate effectively have |
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| 39 | 39 | | started him firmly on his path to success; now, therefore, be it |
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| 40 | 40 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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| 41 | 41 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Philip Hayes on winning the History |
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| 42 | 42 | | Whiz Kids Debate in 2008 and extend to him sincere best wishes for |
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| 43 | 43 | | continued success and happiness; and, be it further |
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| 44 | 44 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 45 | 45 | | prepared for Mr. Hayes as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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| 46 | 46 | | House of Representatives. |
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| 47 | 47 | | Merritt |
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| 48 | 48 | | ______________________________ |
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| 49 | 49 | | Speaker of the House |
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| 50 | 50 | | I certify that H.R. No. 2531 was adopted by the House on May |
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| 51 | 51 | | 26, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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| 52 | 52 | | ______________________________ |
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| 53 | 53 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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