Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SR252 Compare Versions

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1	1	SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 252
2	2	In Memory
3	3	of
4	4	Polly Sowell
5	5	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and
6	6	commemorates the remarkable life of Polly Sowell, who died in
7	7	January of 2023 at the age of 95; and
8	8	WHEREAS, Born on November 3, 1927, in Lynchburg, Virginia,
9	9	Polly Sowell was raised in Houston and earned a bachelor's degree
10	10	from Sweetbriar College in Virginia before marrying and moving to
11	11	McAllen; inclined towards activism, Polly served on the library
12	12	board, presided over the Junior Service League, and founded the
13	13	Valley Music Festival and the Basic Education Council; and
14	14	WHEREAS, A proficient administrator and capable leader,
15	15	Polly quickly rose to prominence in state politics; she was
16	16	elected to the State Republican Executive Committee in 1960, and
17	17	in 1972, she was elected vice chairman of the Republican Party of
18	18	Texas; President Nixon appointed her to the Inter-American
19	19	Commission for Women, and she represented the United States at
20	20	the commission's conference in Bogota, Colombia; and
21	21	WHEREAS, After she moved to Austin in 1979, Polly became
22	22	the director of the Governor's Office for Volunteer Services and
23	23	served as deputy chief of staff for Governor Bill Clements; she
24	24	founded and served as president and executive director of the
25	25	Texas Women's Alliance, a group of independent conservative
26	26	women leaders who led trade missions to Spain, Japan, and
27	27	Switzerland and published reports on the Equal Rights Amendment,
28	28	economic growth, venture capitalism, higher education, and other
29	29	current issues; and
30	30	WHEREAS, A brilliant and elegant woman with exceptional
31	31	foresight, Polly was sought out by elected leaders at the highest
32	32	levels for her wise counsel; she was appointed by President
33	33	George H. W. Bush to serve on the Defense Advisory Committee on
34	34	Women in the Services, and she served as appointments manager to
35	35	Governor George W. Bush and to Governor Rick Perry; in addition
36	36	to her political pursuits, Polly founded and directed Texas Works
37	37	Together, a program that trained mentors to help mothers
38	38	receiving public assistance to further their education and
39	39	engage in job training; and
40	40	WHEREAS, Polly remained active in her community and in
41	41	public service well after her retirement, and she served on the
42	42	Texas Commission on the Arts throughout a six-year term and
43	43	served on the Humanities Texas Board; in 2013, Polly relocated
44	44	from Austin to The Woodlands, near Houston, to be closer to her
45	45	devoted daughter, Susan; and
46	46	WHEREAS, Through her outstanding accomplishments and her
47	47	untiring commitment to helping others, Polly made a positive
48	48	difference in the lives of innumerable people and helped to pave
49	49	the way for future generations of women to meet our state's
50	50	challenges with diplomacy and grace; she leaves an inspiring
51	51	legacy of service and advocacy, and her memory will be dearly
52	52	cherished by her loved ones and by all who were privileged to
53	53	share in her life; now, therefore, be it
54	54	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
55	55	Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved
56	56	family of Polly Sowell; and, be it further
57	57	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
58	58	her family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas
59	59	Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in
60	60	memory of Polly Sowell.
61	61	Eckhardt
62	62	________________________________
63	63	President of the Senate
64	64	I hereby certify that the
65	65	above Resolution was adopted by
66	66	the Senate on March 1, 2023, by a
67	67	rising vote.
68	68	________________________________
69	69	Secretary of the Senate
70	70	________________________________
71	71	Member, Texas Senate