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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The city of Austin lost a zealous guardian of its |
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eccentricity with the death of beloved Austin American-Statesman |
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columnist John Kelso on July 28, 2017, at the age of 73; and |
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WHEREAS, While not a Texas native, Mr. Kelso was a natural |
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Austinite, and his keen appreciation of the city's qualities and |
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quirks won the allegiance of longtime residents, newcomers, and |
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exiles alike; he wrote with wit, perspicacity, and, as necessary, |
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supreme indignation, prompting many readers to turn to his column |
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before going back to peruse the rest of the paper; he profiled |
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weirdos, poked fun at politicos, groused about Californians and |
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condos, and found singular humor in encounters with everyday |
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people, from his South Austin neighbors to the denizens of the |
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Poodle Dog Lounge on North Burnet Road; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Kelso was born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, a state |
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he loved to mock, especially in advance of the annual Texas-OU game; |
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after growing up in Maine, he graduated from the journalism school |
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at the University of Missouri, although he didn't bother to obtain |
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the actual diploma until 2016, when his commencement ceremony was |
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conducted at Giddy Ups Saloon; he began his career in New Hampshire |
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at the Manchester Union-Leader and then the Portsmouth Herald; |
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while serving in the U.S. Army, he penned a humor column for the |
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troop newspaper, and his comedic sense served him well again at The |
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Palm Beach Post, where his scant knowledge of hunting and fishing |
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did not deter him from taking on the outdoor beat; he turned the |
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assignment into an opportunity to interview memorable Florida |
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characters, and his appreciative editor, having moved on to Austin, |
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hired him at the American-Statesman in 1976; and |
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WHEREAS, For four decades, Mr. Kelso continued to amuse, |
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entertain, enlighten, and much to his delight, occasionally |
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infuriate the paper's subscribers; he published three books and |
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earned numerous accolades, among them the 2005 National Press Club |
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Angele Gingras Humor Award; theoretically, he retired in 2011, but |
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despite failing health, he continued to write his columns until |
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shortly before his death; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Kelso was devoted to his wife, Kay, and his |
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stepdaughters, Lauren Williams and Rachel Cavin; a man of great |
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kindness and warmth, he enjoyed many lasting friendships and a very |
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special connection with his loyal readers, for whom his passing |
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marks the end of an era in Austin; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of |
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John Kelso and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his |
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passing; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of John Kelso. |
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Rodriguez of Travis |
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Howard |
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Israel |
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Workman |
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Hinojosa |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 276 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on August 15, 2017. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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