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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The passing of Janice Evelyn Christiansen May of |
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| 6 | 7 | | Austin on July 10, 2016, at the age of 93, brought a great loss to |
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| 7 | 8 | | the many public officials and scholars who relied on her |
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| 8 | 9 | | unparalleled expertise in the vast complexities of the Texas |
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| 9 | 10 | | Constitution; and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, Born in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, on May 29, 1923, |
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| 11 | 12 | | the former Janice Christiansen earned a bachelor's degree in music |
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| 12 | 13 | | and master's and doctoral degrees in political science from the |
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| 13 | 14 | | University of Minnesota; she married statistics professor Francis |
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| 14 | 15 | | Barnes May in 1956, and they shared a rewarding relationship of 50 |
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| 15 | 16 | | years before his death in 2007; and |
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| 16 | 17 | | WHEREAS, Dr. May joined the faculty of The University of |
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| 17 | 18 | | Texas in 1965; she served with enormous dedication as internship |
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| 18 | 19 | | coordinator and, as a professor of government, she taught popular |
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| 19 | 20 | | simulation classes on the Texas Legislature and the state |
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| 20 | 21 | | constitutional convention process, becoming a beloved mentor to |
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| 21 | 22 | | hundreds of students and inspiring many to pursue careers in state |
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| 22 | 23 | | politics; and |
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| 23 | 24 | | WHEREAS, Widely published, Dr. May was the author of the |
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| 24 | 25 | | comprehensive The Texas State Constitution: A Reference Guide, the |
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| 25 | 26 | | coauthor of two editions of a Texas Government textbook, and the |
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| 26 | 27 | | author or coauthor of numerous other books, chapters, and journal |
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| 27 | 28 | | and reference articles; she spoke frequently at conferences and |
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| 28 | 29 | | other events across Texas and beyond and often advised state |
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| 29 | 30 | | legislatures as an expert on the constitutional amendment process; |
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| 30 | 31 | | in the 1970s, she played a vital role in the Texas Constitutional |
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| 31 | 32 | | Revision Commission; she was an election observer for ABC News as |
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| 32 | 33 | | well; and |
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| 33 | 34 | | WHEREAS, Dr. May also benefited her fellow citizens as a |
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| 34 | 35 | | member of the League of Women Voters, serving as president of her |
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| 35 | 36 | | local chapter and as a member of the national board; in addition, |
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| 36 | 37 | | she was an active member of the American Association of University |
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| 37 | 38 | | Women; and |
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| 38 | 39 | | WHEREAS, By sharing her deep knowledge of our state's |
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| 39 | 40 | | political evolution, Janice May made significant contributions to |
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| 40 | 41 | | good governance, and her scholarly legacy will continue to enhance |
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| 41 | 42 | | the work of others in the years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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| 42 | 43 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 43 | 44 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Janice Evelyn |
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| 44 | 45 | | Christiansen May and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn |
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| 45 | 46 | | her passing; and, be it further |
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| 46 | 47 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 47 | 48 | | prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 48 | 49 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Janice C. |
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| 49 | 50 | | May. |
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