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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The end of an era in Texas journalism has come with |
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the retirement of Paul Burka from Texas Monthly magazine in March |
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2015; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Galveston, Mr. Burka earned a bachelor's |
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degree in history from Rice University and a law degree from The |
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University of Texas at Austin; he was accepted to the State Bar of |
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Texas, and he began his career as an attorney with the Texas |
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Legislature, where, as counsel to the Senate Natural Resources |
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Committee, he was able to closely observe state legislators in |
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their native habitat; and |
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WHEREAS, In March 1974, Mr. Burka submitted a Texas-themed |
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limerick puzzle to a new periodical called Texas Monthly, and the |
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following month he published his first story for the magazine, |
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earning $75 for a piece about the old baseball stadium at The |
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University of Texas; on October 1, 1974, he switched careers and |
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joined the magazine's staff full-time, working out of its original |
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offices at 15th and Guadalupe in downtown Austin; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Burka quickly became one of the magazine's |
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signature writers, crafting stylish and well-researched articles |
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about Texas barbecue, the Big Bend region, the Houston Astros, the |
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Southwest Conference, and noteworthy Texas authors; he won a |
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National Magazine Award for a two-part story on the oil tycoon |
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Clinton Menges in 1985, and he also won acclaim for his profile of |
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John Connally, a cover story calling the Chevy Suburban the |
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"National Car of Texas," an insightful article about the struggles |
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of a ranching family in Uvalde, and a moving piece about the Texas |
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A&M bonfire tragedy; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition, Mr. Burka has served the magazine and |
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its readers as a skilled editor of the work of other reporters, and |
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he has been a mentor and an inspiration to younger writers; and |
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WHEREAS, Above all, Mr. Burka has been, for many years, one |
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of the most knowledgeable, experienced, and influential |
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commentators on Texas politics, sharing his encyclopedic knowledge |
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of the Texas Legislature and its colorful history with the readers |
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of Texas Monthly and the popular Burka Blog, which he started in |
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2006, and to which he will occasionally continue to contribute; he |
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has also regularly explained the ways of Texas and Texans to the |
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viewers of Fox, MSNBC, NBC, and CNN, and he has inspired both fear |
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and delight in legislators as one of the creators of the magazine's |
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annual list of the 10 best and 10 worst legislators; and |
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WHEREAS, For more than 40 years, this brilliant reporter and |
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commentator has informed and enlightened readers of all political |
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persuasions with his deep and affectionate understanding of the |
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Lone Star State, and he may indeed take pride in the respect with |
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which he is regarded by generations of his fellow Texans; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Paul Burka on his retirement from |
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Texas Monthly and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued |
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success and happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Burka as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |