SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 139
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
recognize International Business Machines Corporation on the
occasion of the company's 50th anniversary in Austin; and
WHEREAS, On July 31, 1967, IBM opened the doors of its new
100,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in North Austin, and 500
employees played a role in assembling the Selectric Composer
typewriter; and
WHEREAS, The company's operations have evolved over the
years as IBM has worked to meet the changing demands of society,
and today, the Austin campus provides jobs for approximately
6,000 Central Texans; the site hosts one of IBM's 12 research
laboratories, and it serves as headquarters for the company's
Global Design Group; and
WHEREAS, IBM has reached many significant technological
milestones in the capital city; in 1984, Austin workers helped
develop the company's first portable personal computer, and two
years later, the Austin site began manufacturing the PC
Convertible, IBM's first foldable laptop; and
WHEREAS, Over the last five decades, IBM has contributed
greatly to the local economy through job creation, acquisitions,
and the philanthropic endeavors of its employees; it has also
helped bring about new entrepreneurial activity, as former
employees have moved on to begin new local technology businesses
such as Cognitive Scale and ClearCube; and
WHEREAS, IBM played a significant role in Austin's development
from a sleepy college town to one of the nation's renowned
technological centers; the company continues to thrive as an
innovator in technological research and development, and its
50-year anniversary in the Texas capital is indeed worthy of
celebration; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby congratulate International
Business Machines Corporation on 50 years of success in Austin
and extend to all associated with the company best wishes for the
future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
the company as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
Watson
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on August 14, 2017.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate