H.R. No. 1298
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Dr. John Tunnell, retired associate director of the
Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi,
has been named professor emeritus by The Texas A&M University
System Board of Regents; and
WHEREAS, Emeritus status is conferred on select former
faculty members and administrators in recognition of their
significant contributions to the educational community; many of
these distinguished educators continue to serve the university
during their retirement; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Tunnell joined A&M--Corpus Christi as an
assistant professor of biology in 1974 and went on to forge a
distinguished career there that would span 39 years; during his
long tenure with the university, he advised numerous graduate
students and developed and taught 18 different courses, including
one he offered each year that involved a field trip to study the
coral reefs in Mexico; "Wes" Tunnell also founded the Center for
Coastal Studies, the university's first research center, and in
2001 he became associate director of the newly endowed Harte
Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (HRI); he played a key
role in establishing HRI, from helping design the facility to
developing its first doctoral program; and
WHEREAS, Highly respected by his colleagues, Dr. Tunnell was
named to the Endowed Chair for Biodiversity and Conservation
Science at HRI in 2011, and in 2013 he was recognized with a Harte's
Heroes Award; and
WHEREAS, Through his myriad endeavors in behalf of Texas A&M
University--Corpus Christi, Dr. Wes Tunnell has contributed
immeasurably to advancing the mission of that school, and he is
indeed deserving of this most recent accolade; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Wes Tunnell on his designation
as professor emeritus at Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi and
extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success and
happiness; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Dr. Tunnell as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Herrero
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1298 was adopted by the House on April
9, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House