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| 6 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, Lee Ehmke announced his retirement as president and |
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| 8 | 9 | | CEO of the Houston Zoo in September 2024, after nearly a decade of |
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| 9 | 10 | | dedicated service to that institution; and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, Hired in 2015, Mr. Ehmke has led the Houston Zoo in |
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| 11 | 12 | | becoming a premier wildlife conservation organization; his |
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| 12 | 13 | | accomplishments include completing the zoo's centennial campaign |
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| 13 | 14 | | and the first phase of its master plan, achieving a perfect |
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| 14 | 15 | | inspection by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and |
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| 15 | 16 | | establishing a variety of unique exhibits; under his guidance, the |
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| 16 | 17 | | zoo has increased the reach and effectiveness of its wildlife |
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| 17 | 18 | | conservation efforts and created thousands of jobs in the Greater |
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| 18 | 19 | | Houston area; and |
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| 19 | 20 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Ehmke previously served as director and CEO of |
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| 20 | 21 | | the Minnesota Zoo and as president of the World Association of Zoos |
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| 21 | 22 | | and Aquariums, and he worked for the Wildlife Conservation Society |
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| 22 | 23 | | at the Bronx Zoo for 12 years; in recognition of his achievements, |
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| 23 | 24 | | he received the Heini Hediger Award from WAZA, and he was named one |
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| 24 | 25 | | of the Most Admired CEOs by the Houston Business Journal in 2023; |
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| 25 | 26 | | and |
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| 26 | 27 | | WHEREAS, Lee Ehmke has made significant contributions to |
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| 27 | 28 | | advancing the mission of the Houston Zoo, and he may reflect with |
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| 28 | 29 | | pride on a career well spent as he embarks on the next exciting |
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| 29 | 30 | | chapter of his life; now, therefore, be it |
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| 30 | 31 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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| 31 | 32 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Lee Ehmke on his retirement as |
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| 32 | 33 | | president and CEO of the Houston Zoo and extend to him sincere best |
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| 33 | 34 | | wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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| 34 | 35 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 35 | 36 | | prepared for Mr. Ehmke as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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| 36 | 37 | | House of Representatives. |
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