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2001 SESSION


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 433
Commending John R. Morison.

Agreed to by the Senate, January 25, 2001
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 2, 2001

WHEREAS, John R. Morison, the president and chief executive officer of public television station WHRO in Norfolk, has announced his intention to retire in June 2001; and

WHEREAS, John Morison joined WHRO as general manager 25 years ago, when WHRO was a small educational television station with a budget of $2 million and a staff of fewer than 50; and

WHEREAS, under the leadership of John Morison, WHRO has become a nationally and internationally recognized public telecommunications center, known for its role in the application of educational technologies and public telecommunications; and

WHEREAS, WHRO, with a staff of 100 and an annual operating budget of $9 million, now has skilled managers heading four divisions: public broadcasting, Internet, education, and telecommunications; and

WHEREAS, during John Morison's tenure, WHRO has added two 24-hour public radio stations and has expanded the programming acquisition budgets of the television and radio stations to bring quality national programming to the community; and

WHEREAS, WHRO has also expanded production resources to create local programming; has implemented the Consortium for Interactive Instruction to make educational technologies available to educators, teachers, and classrooms; has developed Internet connections for schools, teachers, and community nonprofit organizations; and has developed a wireless cable system for distance learning services; and

WHEREAS, serving as chairman of the Virginia Association of Public Television Stations, John Morison was instrumental in gaining funding for the conversion of the Commonwealth's public television stations to digital broadcasting; and

WHEREAS, WHRO is in the final stages of a successful capital and endowment campaign, which will further help the station make the transition to digital broadcasting; and

WHEREAS, WHRO is a growing and prospering public telecommunications organization, fully prepared for the challenges of the 21st century and already a vital part of the Hampton Roads community—all due in large part to the leadership, energy, and vision of John Morison; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly commend John R. Morison on the completion of an outstanding career in public broadcasting; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to John R. Morison as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for a job well done.