Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SR750 Compare Versions

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Old	New	Differences
1	1	SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 750
2	2	In Memory
3	3	of
4	4	Lyda Ann Thomas
5	5	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the
6	6	citizens of Galveston in mourning the loss of Lyda Ann Thomas,
7	7	who died April 19, 2017, at the age of 80; and
8	8	WHEREAS, Lyda Ann Thomas was born November 20, 1936, into
9	9	one of Galveston's founding families and civic dynasties; her
10	10	grandfather, I. H. Kempner, played an important role in helping
11	11	the city recover after the devastating 1900 hurricane and was
12	12	instrumental in acquiring the financing needed to build the
13	13	seawall and raise the city; and
14	14	WHEREAS, She attended the prestigious Hockaday School in
15	15	Dallas before going to New York City, where she attended Columbia
16	16	University and worked at a number of jobs, including as an
17	17	editorial assistant at Harper's Bazaar magazine; she married
18	18	Jerry Redmond Thomas in 1958, and the couple raised their four
19	19	children in New York City; and
20	20	WHEREAS, She returned to Galveston in 1973 and opened
21	21	Thomas and Company, which bought and restored historic buildings
22	22	and played an important early role in the island's historic
23	23	renovation movement; she later opened The Bridge, a halfway house
24	24	for young adults with emotional disturbances, before
25	25	establishing Galveston Harbor Tours; and
26	26	WHEREAS, Mrs. Thomas served on the Galveston City Council
27	27	for six years before being elected mayor in 2004 with more than 60
28	28	percent of the vote; she served three consecutive terms and
29	29	became known as the "Hurricane Mayor" for her exceptional
30	30	leadership and her composed demeanor during the threat of
31	31	Hurricane Rita and the devastation of Hurricane Ike; afterwards,
32	32	she worked to institute policies to better prepare the city to
33	33	face future disasters, and she traveled the country to share the
34	34	lessons she had learned; and
35	35	WHEREAS, She received numerous honors and accolades
36	36	through the years, including the Galveston Historical
37	37	Foundation's Steel Oleander Award and the Spirit of Elissa Award,
38	38	and she was named the 2006 Citizen of the Year by the Galveston
39	39	County Daily News; she served as president of the Harris and
40	40	Eliza Kempner Fund, which provides funding for the arts,
41	41	community development, and environmental projects in the
42	42	Galveston area; and
43	43	WHEREAS, A woman of courage, strength, and compassion, she
44	44	gave generously to others, and her wisdom, her commitment to
45	45	public service, and her enthusiasm for living each day to the
46	46	fullest will not be forgotten; and
47	47	WHEREAS, She was devoted to her children, and she leaves
48	48	behind memories that will be treasured forever by her family and
49	49	countless friends; now, therefore, be it
50	50	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th
51	51	Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved
52	52	family of Lyda Ann Thomas; and, be it further
53	53	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
54	54	her family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas
55	55	Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in
56	56	memory of Lyda Ann Thomas.
57	57	Taylor of Galveston
58	58	________________________________
59	59	President of the Senate
60	60	I hereby certify that the
61	61	above Resolution was adopted by
62	62	the Senate on May 9, 2017, by a
63	63	rising vote.
64	64	________________________________
65	65	Secretary of the Senate
66	66	________________________________
67	67	Member, Texas Senate