H.R. No. 2589
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Governor Dolph Briscoe, Jr., is being honored with
the 2009 Pathfinder Award by the Greater San Antonio Chamber of
Commerce, in recognition of his extraordinary record of
philanthropy and community service in the Alamo City; and
WHEREAS, Born in Uvalde in 1923, Dolph Briscoe has achieved a
distinguished career in both the public and private arenas; this
esteemed Texan served as a member of the Texas Legislature from 1949
to 1957 and as governor of Texas from 1973 to 1979; he and his wife,
Janey Slaughter Briscoe, an eminent civic leader in her own right,
shared a devoted union of nearly 58 years, until her passing in
2000; and
WHEREAS, One of the greatest beneficiaries of Governor
Briscoe's generosity has been The University of Texas Health
Science Center at San Antonio, which from its beginning has enjoyed
his and his family's staunch support; during the past decade,
Governor Briscoe has donated more than $4 million to the health
science center to establish the world-class Janey Briscoe Center of
Excellence in Cardiovascular Research and the Janey Briscoe
Distinguished University Chair in Cardiovascular Research; and
WHEREAS, The health science center honored Governor Briscoe
in 2008 with the creation of the Briscoe Family Legacy Fund in
Women's Health in the School of Medicine; at the gala honoring
Governor Briscoe and celebrating the establishment of the fund,
Governor Briscoe announced that he and his family were giving the
center $5 million in support of cardiology and women's health; the
university has expressed its appreciation by naming the Division of
Cardiology in the medical school after Janey and Dolph Briscoe; and
WHEREAS, Among Governor Briscoe's other contributions to the
center have been the establishment of the Janey Briscoe Endowed
Scholarship in Nursing and the raising of $12 million in just seven
months to help create the South Texas Centers for Biology in
Medicine, for which ground breaking was held in 1998; the library on
the UTHSC campus bears Governor Briscoe's name, in gratitude for
his outstanding generosity, and the Children's Center of University
Hospital is named for Janey Briscoe, in appreciation of her
lifetime of service to children; and
WHEREAS, Governor Briscoe has also taken a keen interest in
The University of Texas at San Antonio, where his long record of
support includes service as a member of the UTSA development board
and President's Associates, the co-chairing, with his wife, of the
school's Engineering and Biotech Initiative, and the establishment
of the Janey S. Briscoe Endowed Chair in the Business of Health; and
WHEREAS, Cultural institutions have enjoyed Governor
Briscoe's generous patronage as well; his gift of $4 million has
laid the foundation for the Dolph and Janey Briscoe Western Art
Museum, which is being built in the heart of downtown San Antonio,
while at the Witte Museum, his donation of $500,000 helped to mount
a stunning exhibition about South Texas; he has also helped lead the
campaign to create the South Texas Heritage Center on the Witte
campus; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, Governor Briscoe's deep interest in
the welfare of San Antonio citizens has been manifested through his
involvement with such institutions as the Southwest Mental Health
Center, United Way, San Antonio Advocacy Council, and Greater San
Antonio Chamber of Commerce; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his most recent accolade, Governor
Briscoe has been recognized in San Antonio with the Frost Award from
UTSA and the naming of a middle school in his honor; and
WHEREAS, Governor Briscoe's three children, Janey Briscoe
Marmion, Dolph Briscoe III, and Cele Briscoe Carpenter, have
supported their father in his charitable endeavors; and
WHEREAS, Through his far-reaching generosity, Governor Dolph
Briscoe, Jr., has advanced the development of medical, educational,
and cultural institutions in San Antonio and helped to secure a
brighter, more promising future for countless Texans; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Governor Dolph Briscoe, Jr., on his
receipt of the 2009 Pathfinder Award from the Greater San Antonio
Chamber of Commerce and extend to him profound appreciation for a
lifetime of illustrious service in behalf of the Lone Star State;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Governor Briscoe as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Martinez Fischer
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2589 was adopted by the House on May
31, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House