H.R. No. 429
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr. is being inducted into the
U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame on May 31, 2025; and
WHEREAS, A Temple native, Bernard Harris began dreaming of a
career as an astronaut as he watched the first moon landing on
television; he earned his bachelor's degree in biology at the
University of Houston and went on to earn his medical degree from
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in
1982; after completing his residency in internal medicine at the
Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, he pursued research opportunities related
to the aerospace field at the NASA Ames Research Center in
California and then the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Harris was admitted to the NASA Astronaut Corps
training group in 1990 and served as a mission specialist on the
space shuttle Columbia in 1993; two years later, he returned to
space as the payload commander for STS-63; he became the first
African American to walk in space as he and a fellow crew member
tested the temperature resilience of their spacesuits; during a
decade with NASA, he served at a number of key facilities, including
Moffett Federal Airfield in California and NASA Headquarters in
Washington, D.C.; among numerous accolades, he has received the
NASA Award of Merit, National Space Grant Distinguished Services
Award, the 2000 Horatio Alger Award, and the 2024 Presidential
Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as nine honorary doctorates; a
middle school in San Antonio was named in his honor in 2006; and
WHEREAS, Following his time with NASA, Dr. Harris embarked on
a new path in entrepreneurship, initially as vice president of
Spacehab, Inc.; he earned an MBA from the University of
Houston-Clear Lake and since 2001, he has led Versalius Ventures, a
venture capital firm that invests in early- to mid-stage health
care technologies and companies; in order to encourage minority
students to pursue STEM careers, he established both the ExxonMobil
Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp and the Dream Tour; and
WHEREAS, Bernard Harris has inspired innumerable people
through his outstanding achievements and wide-ranging
contributions, and he is richly deserving of this prestigious
honor; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr. on his
induction into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and that he be
extended sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Dr. Harris as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Hickland
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 429 was adopted by the House on March
13, 2025, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House