Bill Text: TX HR796 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Dr. Arthur J. Eisenberg.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-03-22 - Reported enrolled [HR796 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HR796-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 796 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Dr. Arthur J. Eisenberg, former codirector of the | ||
| University of North Texas Center for Human Identification and a | ||
| pioneer in the field of forensic genetics, passed away on November | ||
| 8, 2018, at the age of 62; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A native of the Bronx, New York, Arthur Eisenberg | ||
| was born on May 20, 1956, to Armand and Rosalind Eisenberg, and he | ||
| grew up with the companionship of his sister, Marcia; he went on to | ||
| study at the State University of New York at Albany, where he | ||
| graduated with bachelor and master of science degrees and a Ph.D. in | ||
| molecular biology; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In 1989, Dr. Eisenberg was hired by the UNT Health | ||
| Science Center, beginning a tenure that spanned nearly three | ||
| decades until his retirement in 2017; he was instrumental in | ||
| establishing both the UNT Center for Human Identification and the | ||
| UNT Health Science Center's graduate program for forensic genetics, | ||
| through which he had the opportunity to mentor aspiring forensic | ||
| analysts who went on to play key roles in federal and state law | ||
| enforcement agencies across the U.S.; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Under Dr. Eisenberg's leadership as codirector, the | ||
| Center for Human Identification gained a reputation as one of the | ||
| nation's top DNA laboratories and assisted with tens of thousands | ||
| of cases involving missing and unidentified persons; over the | ||
| course of his career, he worked on cases related to violent crimes | ||
| and natural disasters and used his expertise to identify victims of | ||
| the September 11 terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and the 1973 | ||
| Pinochet military coup in Chile; he never lost sight of what | ||
| mattered most about his work, which was helping families with | ||
| missing loved ones to find closure, and he made sure to remind his | ||
| staff of what was at stake for every project they undertook; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Dr. Eisenberg shared his extensive knowledge and | ||
| insights freely as the chair of the U.S. DNA Advisory Board and as a | ||
| member of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, among numerous | ||
| other groups; in 2011, he was named the recipient of the Paul L. | ||
| Kirk Award from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Dr. Eisenberg enjoyed the love | ||
| and support of his wife, Debbie, and his three daughters, Breanne, | ||
| Brandy, and Kristin, and he was proud to welcome into his family six | ||
| cherished grandchildren, Sienna, Evan, Keelyn, Charley, Sloane, | ||
| and Joeb; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Dr. Arthur J. Eisenberg made contributions to his | ||
| profession that impacted the lives of countless people and | ||
| influenced a generation of forensic scientists, and he leaves | ||
| behind a legacy that will long be treasured by those who were | ||
| privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Dr. Arthur J. | ||
| Eisenberg and extend sincere sympathy to all who mourn his passing; | ||
| and, be it further | ||
| R | ||
| ESOLVED, 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 Dr. Arthur | ||
| Eisenberg. | ||
| Geren | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 796 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
| rising vote of the House on March 21, 2019. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
