Bill Text: TX HR2357 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of newspaper publisher and philanthropist Edward H. Harte.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-05-31 - Reported enrolled [HR2357 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HR2357-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 2357 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Admired newspaperman, philanthropist, and civic | ||
| leader Edward H. Harte passed away on May 18, 2011, at the age of 88; | ||
| and | ||
| WHEREAS, Born in Pilot Grove, Missouri, Ed Harte was raised | ||
| in San Angelo and learned the newspaper business from the ground up | ||
| at the San Angelo Standard-Times, which had been purchased by his | ||
| father in 1920; Mr. Harte began working as a switchboard operator | ||
| and earned his stripes as a reporter before rising through the | ||
| newsroom ranks to become publisher of the Corpus Christi | ||
| Caller-Times in 1962; a brilliant journalist and student of Mexican | ||
| politics, he created a popular Sunday column providing unique | ||
| insights into current events in Mexico and continued to write it | ||
| even after his retirement in 1987; Mr. Harte helped build his | ||
| family's media empire and served on the board of Harte-Hanks | ||
| Communications until 1997, when the company sold all its newspapers | ||
| to focus on its other businesses; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Harte was also a pioneer in environmental | ||
| conservation; he served on a committee that developed the first | ||
| municipal regulations setting limits on oil and gas drilling in | ||
| Corpus Christi Bay, which later became a model for state and federal | ||
| standards, and he was a powerful advocate for the establishment of | ||
| Mustang Island State Park and Padre Island National Seashore; a | ||
| member of the National Audubon Society board and a former chair, he | ||
| received the organization's highest award, the Audubon Medal; he | ||
| joined with his brother, Houston, to donate their 66,000-acre ranch | ||
| to the Nature Conservancy, and the land was subsequently added to | ||
| Big Bend National Park; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Through the years, Mr. Harte and his wife, Janet, | ||
| made numerous anonymous donations to worthy causes, focusing on the | ||
| environment, the arts, education, women's health care, and the | ||
| homeless; it was revealed in 1998 that the couple had given at least | ||
| $20 million to such causes, including a $1 million challenge grant | ||
| to Corpus Christi Metro Ministries to avert the closing of two | ||
| shelters, along with generous support for a library in Flour Bluff | ||
| and a performing arts center at Texas A&M University-Corpus | ||
| Christi; with characteristic vision, Mr. Harte donated $46 million | ||
| in 2000 to establish the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico | ||
| Studies at TAMU-Corpus Christi; its researchers have made vital | ||
| contributions to marine science and have played an important, | ||
| ongoing role in the response to the massive 2010 BP oil spill; when | ||
| the Naval Air Station and Corpus Christi Army Depot were threatened | ||
| with closure, Mr. Harte used his considerable influence to keep | ||
| them open; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Ed Harte left an extraordinary legacy for the people | ||
| of Corpus Christi, the Lone Star State, the Gulf Coast, and beyond; | ||
| although this kind, witty, and unassuming man will be deeply missed | ||
| by all who were fortunate enough to know him, his tremendous | ||
| devotion to environmental and charitable causes will continue to | ||
| resonate in the years to come; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Edward H. Harte and | ||
| extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his | ||
| children, Christopher Harte, William Harte, Elizabeth Owens, and | ||
| Julia Widdowson; to his brother, Houston Harte; to his nine | ||
| grandchildren, his great-grandchild, and his two | ||
| step-grandchildren; and to his other relatives and friends; and, be | ||
| it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of | ||
| Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Edward H. | ||
| Harte. | ||
| Hunter | ||
| Scott | ||
| Aliseda | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 2357 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
| rising vote of the House on May 30, 2011. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
