| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 105 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, The retirement of Marise McDermott as president and |
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| 6 | 6 | | CEO of the Witte Museum in San Antonio on December 31, 2023, offers |
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| 7 | 7 | | a fitting opportunity to reflect on her outstanding record of |
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| 8 | 8 | | achievement; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Ms. McDermott assumed leadership of the Witte |
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| 10 | 10 | | Museum in 2004 after serving as the inaugural director of its |
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| 11 | 11 | | Humanities Center for a decade; under her guidance, the museum has |
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| 12 | 12 | | experienced considerable growth in attendance, and its campus |
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| 13 | 13 | | underwent a $100 million expansion that contributed to the |
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| 14 | 14 | | revitalization of the Broadway Corridor; she also oversaw the |
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| 15 | 15 | | renovation to the main building, which has since been the site of |
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| 16 | 16 | | numerous science, nature, and culture exhibits and events, |
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| 17 | 17 | | including the annual Fiesta coronation gown shows, a major survey |
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| 18 | 18 | | of Texas painting and sculpture, and the Black Cowboys: An American |
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| 19 | 19 | | Story exhibition; and |
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| 20 | 20 | | WHEREAS, Before joining the Witte Museum, Ms. McDermott |
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| 21 | 21 | | enjoyed a successful career in journalism, working for the |
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| 22 | 22 | | San Angelo Standard-Times, the Austin American-Statesman, and the |
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| 23 | 23 | | San Antonio Light; following her retirement, she will become the |
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| 24 | 24 | | Witte president emeritus, helping with the leadership transition as |
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| 25 | 25 | | well as the museum's 100th anniversary activities; and |
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| 26 | 26 | | WHEREAS, Highly respected by her peers, Ms. McDermott has |
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| 27 | 27 | | served as chair of the American Alliance of Museums Accreditation |
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| 28 | 28 | | Commission; she has further given of her time and talents through |
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| 29 | 29 | | leadership roles with the San Antonio Convention and Visitors |
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| 30 | 30 | | Bureau, the Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival, and the Alamo |
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| 31 | 31 | | Plaza Advisory Committee; over the years, she has received numerous |
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| 32 | 32 | | accolades, including the Jack Nokes Outstanding Service Award from |
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| 33 | 33 | | the Texas Association of Museums, the Business Person of the Year |
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| 34 | 34 | | award from the San Antonio Business Journal, and the Texas Patriot |
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| 35 | 35 | | Award from the Daughters of the Republic of Texas; and |
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| 36 | 36 | | WHEREAS, Admired for her commitment to expanding access to |
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| 37 | 37 | | the cultural, natural, and historical heritage of Texas, Marise |
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| 38 | 38 | | McDermott has made significant contributions to advancing the |
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| 39 | 39 | | mission of the Witte Museum, and she may indeed reflect with pride |
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| 40 | 40 | | on a career well spent as she embarks on the next exciting chapter |
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| 41 | 41 | | of her life; now, therefore, be it |
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| 42 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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| 43 | 43 | | Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby congratulate Marise |
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| 44 | 44 | | McDermott on her retirement as president and CEO of the Witte Museum |
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| 45 | 45 | | and extend to her sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it |
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| 46 | 46 | | further |
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| 47 | 47 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 48 | 48 | | prepared for Ms. McDermott as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 49 | 49 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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| 50 | 50 | | Garcia |
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| 51 | 51 | | ______________________________ |
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| 52 | 52 | | Speaker of the House |
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| 53 | 53 | | I certify that H.R. No. 105 was adopted by the House on |
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| 54 | 54 | | November 1, 2023, by a non-record vote. |
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| 55 | 55 | | ______________________________ |
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| 56 | 56 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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