83R4950 LB-D
By: Paddie H.R. No. 188
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The State of Texas lost a groundbreaking journalist
and tireless champion of open government with the death of Beverly
Ann Arnold of Austin on September 1, 2012, at the age of 67; and
WHEREAS, Born on April 6, 1945, in Jackson, Mississippi, the
former Ann Watson was the daughter of Bill and Mildred Watson; her
interest in journalism was sparked as a young student in Little
Rock, Arkansas, where the integration of Central High School in
1957 made the national news; following her family's move to Fort
Worth, she began a newspaper in her junior high school and continued
to write for the L. D. Bell High School newspaper and community
publications until her graduation; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Arnold attended Texas A&M University in
Arlington and transferred to The University of Texas at Austin;
throughout her years in college, she contributed to various papers,
including the Daily Texan and the Dallas Times Herald, winning a
Headliners award for her work in 1966; she graduated with a
bachelor's degree in journalism in 1968 and that same year married
her high school sweetheart, Reg Arnold; and
WHEREAS, In the 1970s, when few women worked in the Capitol
Press Corps, Mrs. Arnold joined the Capitol bureau of UPI and
covered the actions of the state legislature as well as a number of
controversial stories, including the Sharpstown scandal; she
embarked on a career with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in 1980 and,
while interviewing governor-elect Mark White, was offered a job;
she soon became the first female press secretary to a Texas
governor; and
WHEREAS, Later, Mrs. Arnold served as president of the Texas
Association of Broadcasters, and over the course of her more than
two decades in that role, membership doubled and programs
significantly expanded; under her able leadership, TAB became a
strong backer of the state's open government laws and lobbied for an
improved emergency alert system; Mrs. Arnold oversaw the creation
of a new permanent office for TAB and expanded the Texas Broadcast
Education Foundation's endowment; in 2008, TAB honored her with its
first Lifetime Achievement award; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Arnold also worked closely with legislators to
pass the Texas Free Flow of Information Act and the Texas Citizens
Participation Act; in recognition of her diligent efforts, the
Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas presented her with its
James Madison Award in 2001; moreover, she served as the president
of the National Alliance of State Broadcasters Associations in
2005; and
WHEREAS, In all her endeavors, Mrs. Arnold enjoyed the love
and support of her husband and their sons, Merle and Jonathan; and
WHEREAS, A stalwart advocate of the people's right to
information, Ann Arnold will be deeply missed, but her courage,
tenacity, and vision will forever inspire all who had the good
fortune to know her; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Beverly Ann Arnold and
extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her sons,
Merle Arnold and his wife, Julie, and Jonathan Arnold; to her
sister, Sue March; and to her other relatives and many friends; and,
be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the members of her family and that when the Texas House
of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ann
Arnold.