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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 750
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In Memory |
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of |
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Lyda Ann Thomas |
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the |
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citizens of Galveston in mourning the loss of Lyda Ann Thomas, |
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who died April 19, 2017, at the age of 80; and |
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WHEREAS, Lyda Ann Thomas was born November 20, 1936, into |
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one of Galveston's founding families and civic dynasties; her |
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grandfather, I. H. Kempner, played an important role in helping |
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the city recover after the devastating 1900 hurricane and was |
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instrumental in acquiring the financing needed to build the |
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seawall and raise the city; and |
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WHEREAS, She attended the prestigious Hockaday School in |
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Dallas before going to New York City, where she attended Columbia |
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University and worked at a number of jobs, including as an |
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editorial assistant at Harper's Bazaar magazine; she married |
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Jerry Redmond Thomas in 1958, and the couple raised their four |
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children in New York City; and |
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WHEREAS, She returned to Galveston in 1973 and opened |
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Thomas and Company, which bought and restored historic buildings |
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and played an important early role in the island's historic |
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renovation movement; she later opened The Bridge, a halfway house |
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for young adults with emotional disturbances, before |
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establishing Galveston Harbor Tours; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Thomas served on the Galveston City Council |
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for six years before being elected mayor in 2004 with more than 60 |
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percent of the vote; she served three consecutive terms and |
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became known as the "Hurricane Mayor" for her exceptional |
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leadership and her composed demeanor during the threat of |
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Hurricane Rita and the devastation of Hurricane Ike; afterwards, |
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she worked to institute policies to better prepare the city to |
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face future disasters, and she traveled the country to share the |
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lessons she had learned; and |
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WHEREAS, She received numerous honors and accolades |
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through the years, including the Galveston Historical |
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Foundation's Steel Oleander Award and the Spirit of Elissa Award, |
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and she was named the 2006 Citizen of the Year by the Galveston |
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County Daily News; she served as president of the Harris and |
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Eliza Kempner Fund, which provides funding for the arts, |
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community development, and environmental projects in the |
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Galveston area; and |
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WHEREAS, A woman of courage, strength, and compassion, she |
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gave generously to others, and her wisdom, her commitment to |
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public service, and her enthusiasm for living each day to the |
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fullest will not be forgotten; and |
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WHEREAS, She was devoted to her children, and she leaves |
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behind memories that will be treasured forever by her family and |
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countless friends; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved |
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family of Lyda Ann Thomas; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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her family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
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Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
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memory of Lyda Ann Thomas. |
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Taylor of Galveston |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on May 9, 2017, by a |
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rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |