TITLE: In memory of Janice Evelyn Christensen May.

SUMMARY: In memory of Janice Evelyn Christensen May.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and commemorates the life of Janice Evelyn Christensen May, who died July 10, 2016, at the age of 93; and WHEREAS, Janice May was born May 29, 1923, in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, to Arnold Christensen and Bernice Schauer Christensen; she graduated summa cum laude with a degree in music from the University of Minnesota and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa before continuing her studies and earning master's and doctoral degrees in political science; and WHEREAS, She joined the faculty at The University of Texas at Austin in 1965 and enjoyed a long and illustrious career as an educator and mentor in the Government Department; she served as the department's pre-law advisor and internship coordinator and was a charter member of the Southwest Association of PreLaw Advisors; and WHEREAS, Dr. May was recognized as the foremost expert on the sprawling, 93,000-word Texas Constitution; several generations of legislators, lobbyists, and scholars sought her out for her expertise in the ways the document has evolved over time and its interpretations by the state's courts; and WHEREAS, She was the author of The Texas State Constitution: A Reference Guide,the coauthor of two editions of a Texas government textbook, and the author or coauthor of five other books and 50 journal articles, book chapters, and reference articles, and she was in high demand as a speaker for conferences and as a consultant for the governing bodies of other states involved in amending their constitutions; and WHEREAS, Dr. May was active in a number of professional and civic organizations, notably the League of Women Voters, for which she served on the board of the national organization and as president of the local chapter; she was also a longtime member of the American Association of University Women and an election observer for ABC News; and WHEREAS, She married the late Francis Barnes May in 1956, and the couple enjoyed more than 50 years of marriage together; they took great pleasure in classical music and the opera and traveled the world to such destinations as France, the Soviet Union, and China; and WHEREAS, A woman of courage, strength, and compassion, she gave generously to others, and her wisdom, her perseverance, and her enthusiasm for scholarship and learning will long be remembered by all those whose lives she touched; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved family of Janice Evelyn Christensen May; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for her family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Janice Evelyn Christensen May. Watson President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on March 22, 2017, by a rising vote.