{Note: I have taken the liberty of editing this auspicious document somewhat in the interest of clarity and historical accuracy. G.H. }

HJR302

ENROLLED, House Joint Resolution,

COMMENDING MR. GLENN WILLIAM HOUSE, SR., ON BEING NAMED 2008 GORDO AREA PIONEER OF THE YEAR.

WHEREAS, we take great pride and pleasure in commending Mr. Glenn William House, Sr., on being named 2008 Pioneer of the Year by the Gordo Area Chamber of Commerce; and

WHEREAS, Mr. House is a native son who followed a career in art, education, and publications before returning home in retirement with projects that have added immeasurably to the quality of life and prestige of the Gordo area; and

WHEREAS, born May 7, 1931, to Norman and Lucille Hollingsworth House, he knew early in life that he wanted to follow an artistic path as a sculptor and painter; after graduating from Gordo High School, he attended The University of Alabama, working as a commercial artist and professor while earning Bachelor's, Master's, and Education Specialist's Degrees; he also served his country during the Korean War; and

WHEREAS, returning from military duty, Mr. House worked, first, as a freelance commercial artist, then for Drake Printers in Tuscaloosa; in 1968, he became the first staff artist at The University of Alabama, designing their official publications, and six years later was hired by the UA Library School to teach courses in letterpress printing; after becoming a tenured professor, he acquired equipment needed to expand the Typographic Laboratory and to build a bindery and paper mill; he devoted great effort to the successful development of a Master of Fine Arts program in Book Arts; when Mr. House retired from the University in 1991 he returned to Gordo to do painting, sculpture, and printmaking; and

WHEREAS, in 2001, in partnership with his wife, Kathy Fetters, and a friend, Barbara Lee Black, both professional photographers, he bought an old store in downtown Gordo, turned it into an art gallery, and soon expanded by buying the garage building next door; later the partners purchased another downtown building and converted it to a working and printing studio; using antique presses Mr. House had collected, they even produced the paper on which they created limited-edition prints and small books; and

WHEREAS, after Mr. House established his first downtown studio, Gallery 121, fellow artists began to follow his lead, resulting in an ever-growing art enclave in the area; his latest project has been renovation of the old Gordo Hardware Building as a studio and home for the internationally known printmaker, Amos Paul Kennedy; Jr, and

WHEREAS, Mr. House succeeded in his dream of a career as an artist and then returned to Gordo, bringing with him not just a vision but the reality of a vibrant new art scene alongside the heritage of home; now therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That we are proud to commend Mr. Glenn William House, Sr., on being named 2008 Pioneer of the Year by the Gordo Area Chamber of Commerce, and by copy of this resolution we convey our congratulations and our best wishes for all his future endeavors.