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| 6 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, The retirement of Marise McDermott as president and |
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| 8 | 9 | | CEO of the Witte Museum in San Antonio on December 31, 2023, offers |
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| 9 | 10 | | a fitting opportunity to reflect on her outstanding record of |
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| 10 | 11 | | achievement; and |
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| 11 | 12 | | WHEREAS, Ms. McDermott assumed leadership of the Witte Museum |
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| 12 | 13 | | in 2004 after serving as the inaugural director of its Humanities |
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| 13 | 14 | | Center for a decade; under her guidance, the museum has experienced |
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| 14 | 15 | | considerable growth in attendance, and its campus underwent a $100 |
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| 15 | 16 | | million expansion that contributed to the revitalization of the |
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| 16 | 17 | | Broadway Corridor; she also oversaw the renovation to the main |
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| 17 | 18 | | building, which has since been the site of numerous science, |
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| 18 | 19 | | nature, and culture exhibits and events, including the annual |
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| 19 | 20 | | Fiesta coronation gown shows, a major survey of Texas painting and |
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| 20 | 21 | | sculpture, and the Black Cowboys: An American Story exhibition; and |
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| 21 | 22 | | WHEREAS, Before joining the Witte Museum, Ms. McDermott |
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| 22 | 23 | | enjoyed a successful career in journalism, working for the San |
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| 23 | 24 | | Angelo Standard-Times, the Austin American-Statesman, and the San |
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| 24 | 25 | | Antonio Light; following her retirement, she will become the Witte |
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| 25 | 26 | | president emeritus, helping with the leadership transition as well |
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| 26 | 27 | | as the museum's 100th anniversary activities; and |
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| 27 | 28 | | WHEREAS, Highly respected by her peers, Ms. McDermott has |
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| 28 | 29 | | served as chair of the American Alliance of Museums Accreditation |
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| 29 | 30 | | Commission; she has further given of her time and talents through |
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| 30 | 31 | | leadership roles with the San Antonio Convention and Visitors |
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| 31 | 32 | | Bureau, the Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival, and the Alamo |
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| 32 | 33 | | Plaza Advisory Committee; over the years, she has received numerous |
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| 33 | 34 | | accolades, including the Jack Nokes Outstanding Service Award from |
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| 34 | 35 | | the Texas Association of Museums, the Business Person of the Year |
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| 35 | 36 | | award from the San Antonio Business Journal, and the Texas Patriot |
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| 36 | 37 | | Award from the Daughters of the Republic of Texas; and |
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| 37 | 38 | | WHEREAS, Admired for her commitment to expanding access to |
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| 38 | 39 | | the cultural, natural, and historical heritage of Texas, Marise |
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| 39 | 40 | | McDermott has made significant contributions to advancing the |
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| 40 | 41 | | mission of the Witte Museum, and she may indeed reflect with pride |
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| 41 | 42 | | on a career well spent as she embarks on the next exciting chapter |
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| 42 | 43 | | of her life; now, therefore, be it |
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| 43 | 44 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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| 44 | 45 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Marise McDermott on her retirement |
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| 45 | 46 | | as president and CEO of the Witte Museum and extend to her sincere |
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| 46 | 47 | | best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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| 47 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 48 | 49 | | prepared for Ms. McDermott as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 49 | 50 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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