Bill Text: TX SR129 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Harry Middleton.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-02-06 - Reported enrolled [SR129 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-SR129-Enrolled.html
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| In Memory | ||
| of | ||
| Harry Middleton | ||
| WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins citizens | ||
| across the state in mourning the loss of Harry Middleton, a | ||
| beloved Austinite and the former director of the LBJ Presidential | ||
| Library, who died January 20, 2017, at the age of 95; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Born on October 24, 1921, in Centerville, Iowa, | ||
| Harry Middleton was known by his friends and colleagues for his | ||
| charisma, sense of honor, compassion, and intellectual vigor, | ||
| and he was universally regarded as the most distinguished director to | ||
| have ever served in the presidential library system; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Harry Middleton enlisted in the United States | ||
| Army in 1943, and he served for three years during World War II; | ||
| he later served for two years as an officer in the Korean War, and | ||
| he retired from military duty with the rank of captain; he earned | ||
| a degree in journalism from Louisiana State University in Baton | ||
| Rouge; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Middleton met President Lyndon Baines Johnson | ||
| in 1966 while writing a report for a presidential commission on | ||
| the selective service, and he was hired as a presidential staff | ||
| assistant the following year; he wrote speeches and congressional | ||
| messages for the president for the duration of his term, and he | ||
| returned with him to Texas to collaborate on writing and publishing | ||
| The Choices We Face and The Vantage Point: Perspectives of the | ||
| Presidency, 1963-1969; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Often referred to as the "Dean of Presidential | ||
| Library Directors," Harry Middleton became the second director | ||
| of the LBJ Presidential Library in 1970, and for more than 31 | ||
| years, he was manager of one of the most celebrated presidential | ||
| libraries in the country; in addition to archiving an extensive | ||
| collection of historical materials, he advocated for the formal | ||
| collaboration between the presidential library and the Lyndon B. | ||
| Johnson School of Public Affairs, a partnership that continues | ||
| today to promote the development of innovative research and | ||
| public education initiatives; in August of 2000, Texas Monthly | ||
| described Mr. Middleton as "The Man Who Saved LBJ" for his | ||
| decision to publically release President Johnson's recorded | ||
| telephone conversations; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Harry Middleton was a highly gifted writer who | ||
| earned widespread acclaim for his historical and biographical | ||
| publications; he received the Presidential Rank of Meritorious | ||
| Executive in 1991, and the following year, he was honored with | ||
| the Anti-Defamation League's Torch of Liberty Award; in 1994, | ||
| Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson established the Harry Middleton Lectureship | ||
| to enable the public and students at The University of Texas at | ||
| Austin to attend lectures by renowned speakers free of charge; in | ||
| 2004, the Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation established the Harry | ||
| Middleton Fellowships to support scholarly work in presidential | ||
| studies; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Harry Middleton was a treasured citizen of Texas | ||
| and a devoted husband, father, and grandfather; noted for his | ||
| wise counsel and loyalty, he lived a life of great integrity and | ||
| purpose, and his legacy at the LBJ Presidential Library will | ||
| continue to inspire the highest standards of public engagement | ||
| and discourse long into the future; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th | ||
| Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved | ||
| family of Harry Middleton; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for | ||
| his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas | ||
| Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in | ||
| memory of Harry Middleton. | ||
| Watson | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| President of the Senate | ||
| I hereby certify that the | ||
| above Resolution was adopted by | ||
| the Senate on February 6, 2017, by | ||
| a rising vote. | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| Member, Texas Senate | ||
