GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2009

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 1658

Sponsors:	Representatives Farmer-Butterfield, Tarleton, Dickson, Jones (Primary Sponsors);  Fisher, Gulley, Hurley, and Wilkins.
Referred to:	Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.

July 29, 2009

A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of walter Leland Cronkite, Jr., former anchor and journalist.

Whereas, Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr., was born on November 4, 1916, in St. Joseph, Missouri, to Dr. Walter Leland Cronkite, Sr., and Helena Lena Fritsch Cronkite; and

Whereas, Walter Cronkite's family moved to Houston, Texas, when he was a young boy; and

Whereas, in 1933, at the age of 16, Walter Cronkite enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin and took courses in political science, economics, and journalism; and

Whereas, Walter Cronkite left college early to become a general reporter for the Houston Post and later held several other jobs in media, including serving as a sports announcer; and

Whereas, in 1939, Walter Cronkite began working for the United Press news agency (now United Press International), covering stories from Houston, Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Kansas City, and New York City; and

Whereas, Walter Cronkite served as a war correspondent during World War II from 1942 to 1945, as the chief correspondent during the Nuremberg war crimes trials, and as the bureau manager in Moscow from 1946 to 1948; and

Whereas, in 1950, Walter Cronkite was recruited by Edward R. Murrow to join CBS, where he found success and gained popularity as the narrator of several television programs, including "You Are There" and "The Twentieth Century"; and

Whereas, in 1952, Walter Cronkite covered the Democratic and Republican national presidential conventions for CBS and went on to cover every national political convention, with the exception of the 1964 Democratic convention, until his retirement from the network; and

Whereas, in 1962, Walter Cronkite became the anchor and editor for the CBS Evening News, which  later was named the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite; and

Whereas, according to an independent national poll in 1972, Walter Cronkite was considered "the most trusted man in America"; and

Whereas, Walter Cronkite retired as the anchor of the CBS Evening News in 1981 and thereafter served as a producer and narrator for several television specials, series, and documentaries; and

Whereas, Walter Cronkite published his autobiography, "A Reporter's Life" in 1996; and

Whereas, Walter Cronkite received many awards and honors, including two Peabody Awards, several Emmy Awards, and honorary degrees from American International College, Harvard University, Rollins College, Bucknell University, Syracuse University, and Ohio State University and was the recipient of the William A. White Award for journalistic merit in 1969, the George Polk Journalism Award in 1971, the Gold Medal from the International Radio and Television Society in 1974, the Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University Award in Broadcast Journalism in 1978, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1981, and the News World International's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003; and

Whereas, Walter Cronkite's many achievements in journalism and news editing were recognized by Arizona State University, which named its journalism school The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in his honor; and

Whereas, Walter Cronkite was married for over 64 years to Mary Elizabeth "Betsy" Maxwell, who died in 2005; and

Whereas, Walter Cronkite died on July 17, 2009, at the age of 92; and

Whereas, Walter Cronkite is survived by his son, Walter Leland "Chip" Cronkite, III; two daughters, Nancy Elizabeth Cronkite and Mary Kathleen Cronkite; and four grandsons; Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of Walter Cronkite, one of this country's greatest and most accomplished journalists, and expresses the appreciation of this State and its citizens for the contributions he made to journalism.

SECTION 2.  The General Assembly extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Walter Cronkite for the loss of a beloved family member.

SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Walter Cronkite.

SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.