H.R. No. 620
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Rice University's Wiess School of Natural Sciences
is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025; and
WHEREAS, Established in 1975, the school was named in tribute
to Harry Carothers Wiess and Olga Keith Wiess, major supporters of
the university; Mr. Wiess, one of the founders of ExxonMobil,
became a trustee in 1944 and served as vice chair of the board of
governors from 1946 until his death two years later; Mrs. Wiess
assisted him in the creation of the university's science and
engineering fund and the Keith-Wiess Geological Laboratories; and
WHEREAS, Rice University president Norman Hackerman guided
the formation of the Wiess School from departments previously
grouped with engineering, including biology, biochemistry,
chemistry, geology, mathematical sciences, mathematics, physics,
and space physics and astronomy; today, the school offers 19 majors
and 7 minors; students participate in cutting-edge research across
core and interdisciplinary fields, among them environmental
science, and collaborate frequently with Texas Medical Center; the
school also offers a professional science master's degree program
that prepares scholars for prominent roles in bioscience, health
policy, environmental analysis, energy, and other sectors; and
WHEREAS, The Wiess School takes great pride in the myriad
accolades received by its faculty and staff from such eminent
organizations as the National Academy of Sciences, the U.S.
National Science Foundation, and the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial
Foundation; professors Robert Curl and Richard Smalley established
Rice's reputation as a leader in nanoscience and materials research
by winning the 1985 Nobel Prize for their work on carbon-60; and
WHEREAS, Since its inception, the Wiess School has benefited
by the vision and dynamism of a number of able and energetic
leaders; dean William Gordon was the first, and since 2021, the
school has moved from strength to strength under dean Thomas
Killian; and
WHEREAS, Over the course of a half century, the Wiess School
has played a significant role in fostering scientific advancement
while opening pathways of opportunity for the next generation of
innovators; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Rice University's Wiess School of
Natural Sciences on its 50th anniversary and extend to all those
associated with the school sincere best wishes for continued
success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the school as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Johnson
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 620 was adopted by the House on March
31, 2025, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House