82R13085 MGR-D
By: Naishtat H.C.R. No. 127
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The year 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the
birth of Lady Bird Johnson, and that occasion provides a fitting
opportunity to remember the former first lady for her tireless
efforts to preserve the natural beauty of our state and nation; and
WHEREAS, Born on December 22, 1912, in Karnack, the former
Claudia Alta Taylor spent many hours of her childhood paddling on
Caddo Lake under ancient cypress trees, and those early experiences
awakened in her a lifelong love of nature; she earned bachelor's
degrees in history and journalism from The University of Texas at
Austin and met Lyndon Baines Johnson shortly after graduating; they
married on November 17, 1934; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Johnson distinguished herself as a successful
businesswoman and political campaigner in the ensuing years; she
helped her husband immensely in his bids for a seat in Congress and
then in the U.S. Senate; along the way, she became the mother of two
daughters, Lynda Bird and Luci Baines; Mrs. Johnson's graceful
presence at her husband's side when he was thrust into the
presidency in November 1963 after the Kennedy assassination helped
to reassure a deeply saddened nation facing an unexpected
transition; and
WHEREAS, Soon after President Johnson was elected to his
first full term in 1964, Mrs. Johnson began her work in the area of
conservation and beautification; one of the most important results
of her work was the Highway Beautification Act of 1965, which
encouraged scenic enhancement and wildflower planting along
roadsides, and paved the way for today's requirement that at least
one-quarter of one percent of funds spent on landscaping projects
in the highway system be used to plant native wildflowers; and
WHEREAS, In 1964, Mrs. Johnson sought to make our nation's
capital a garden city and a model for the rest of the country,
planting flowers on the National Mall and throughout parks in
low-income neighborhoods and persuading private businesses to
undertake similar efforts; she also focused the country's attention
on America's natural treasures by visiting historic sites, national
parks, and scenic areas; and
WHEREAS, Among the major legislative initiatives passed
during the Johnson administration were the Wilderness Act of 1964,
the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Wild and Scenic Rivers
program, additions to the National Park system, and 200
environmental laws; in a tribute to his wife's work, President
Johnson presented her in 1968 with 50 pens used to sign 50 laws
related to conservation and beautification; and
WHEREAS, After returning to her home state with her husband
in 1969, Mrs. Johnson devoted herself to the landscape of Texas; she
was a leading force behind the establishment of Austin's hike and
bike trail, and for two decades she supported beautification by
personally giving awards to districts that used native Texas plants
and scenery to the best advantage in their planning; and
WHEREAS, With her friend, actress Helen Hayes, Mrs. Johnson
founded in 1982 what is now the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center;
a component of The University of Texas at Austin, the center is a
national leader in research, education, and the development of
projects that promote sustainability and the use of native plants
that help to conserve water, minimize the use of fertilizers and
pesticides, and convey a unique sense of place; the center sponsors
a national, voluntary rating system for sustainable landscapes,
collects millions of seeds for preservation and restoration, and
consults on related issues with corporations, national parks, and
urban developments; and
WHEREAS, A deeply engaged citizen and visionary, Mrs. Johnson
passed away on July 11, 2007, but her legacy lives on in the scenic
vistas of wildflowers that line so many of the Lone Star State's
roadways, and we, as Texans, are fortunate beneficiaries of her
devotion to the natural world; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby designate the year 2012 as the Lady Bird Johnson Centennial
Year in observance of the 100th anniversary of the birth of this
beloved First Lady.