81R7104 CBE-D
By: Gallego H.R. No. 353
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Former Texas governor Dolph Briscoe, Jr., has
dedicated his life to public service and philanthropy, and in
November 2008, he was selected to receive the Santa Rita Award by
the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System; and
WHEREAS, The highest honor bestowed by the UT Regents, the
Santa Rita Award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated
concern for the principles of higher education, as well as deep
commitment to furtherance of the purposes and objectives of The
University of Texas System; and
WHEREAS, Born on April 23, 1923, in Uvalde, Dolph Briscoe,
Jr., graduated as valedictorian from Uvalde High School and
subsequently attended The University of Texas at Austin, where he
was a member of the Friar Society and served as editor-in-chief of
the Cactus yearbook; he earned a bachelor's degree in 1942, the same
year he married a fellow Longhorn, the former Janey Slaughter;
following a tour of duty with the army in the China-Burma-India
theater during World War II, he returned with his wife to his
hometown and his family's ranching business; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Briscoe began his service in the Texas House of
Representatives in 1949 and quickly made his mark with the
Colson-Briscoe Act, a measure that appropriated $15 million a year
to build farm-to-market and ranch-to-market roads and radically
enhanced the way of life for farmers and rural Texans; during four
terms of service, he also successfully advocated for bills that
improved statewide public education and brought telephone service
to thousands of rural residents; and
WHEREAS, After his father's death in 1954, Mr. Briscoe became
the owner and manager of one of the largest and most diverse ranches
in the state; he went on to serve as president of the Texas and
Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and was instrumental in the
development of the Southwest United States screwworm eradication
program, which is still considered one of the most important and
beneficial in the history of livestock; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan reentered the political arena in
1972 as the Democratic candidate for governor and impressed voters
with his platform of honesty and integrity in government; his
tenure spanned six years and included such achievements as passage
of open meetings and open records legislation and an extensive
ethics and financial disclosure bill; moreover, he added some $4
billion in public funds for secondary and higher education; in
addition, Governor Briscoe distinguished himself as chair of the
Southern Governors' Association, as president of the Interstate Oil
Compact Commission, as a member of the National Petroleum Council,
and as an executive committee member of the National Governors
Association; and
WHEREAS, Since leaving public office in the late 1970s, he
has continued to benefit the Lone Star State through his
exceptional support of UT System institutions, including the UT
Health Science Center at San Antonio, UT M. D. Anderson Cancer
Center, and UT Southwestern Medical Center; Mr. Briscoe's most
recent gift in 2008 of $15 million to the Center for American
History at UT Austin reflects both his passion for history and his
enthusiasm for his alma mater, and the center was fittingly renamed
in his honor; and
WHEREAS, Equally committed to making a positive difference in
the lives of Texans was Mrs. Briscoe, who worked in behalf of
children, senior citizens, and the developmentally disabled before
her death in 2000; Mr. and Mrs. Briscoe raised three children, Janey
Briscoe Marmion, Dolph Briscoe III, and Cele Briscoe Carpenter, and
inspired others with their long and devoted union; and
WHEREAS, The University of Texas System and its institutions
realize great achievements year after year, thanks in part to the
generosity and vision of people such as Dolph Briscoe, and his
immeasurable contributions to higher education will continue to
resonate well into the future; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby honor former governor Dolph Briscoe, Jr., on his
receipt of the Santa Rita Award and extend to him sincere
appreciation for his outstanding dedication to his fellow Texans;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Briscoe as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.