A resolution honoring the life of Nebraska community leader Howard L. Hawks.

Bill: 119-sres-97
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]
Introduced: 2025-02-25
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional tributes

Nebraska
Latest action: action_date: 2025-02-25
text: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1359; text: CR S1358-1359)

Summaries:

tv_txt: III 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 97 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 25, 2025 Mr. Ricketts (for himself and Mrs. Fischer ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Honoring the life of Nebraska community leader Howard L. Hawks.

Whereas, in 1935, Howard L. Hawks (referred to in this preamble as Hawks ) was born in Carleton, Nebraska; Whereas, in 1987, Hawks co-founded Tenaska Energy, where Hawks served as— (1) Chairman and CEO until 2010; and (2) Chairman until 2022; Whereas Hawks grew Tenaska Energy from a small business out of Omaha, Nebraska, to 1 of the largest private companies in the United States; Whereas Hawks remained active in Tenaska Energy even after transitioning to Chairman Emeritus in 2022; Whereas, through his dedication to the community around him, Hawks served as— (1) a Regent at the University of Nebraska for 18 years; and (2) a Board Member of Creighton University for 12 years; Whereas, among his many philanthropic efforts, Hawks transformed the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in both athletics and academics and, in 2023, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln honored Hawks and his wife with the Regents Medal to recognize their contributions; Whereas Hawks supported various efforts and projects across the University of Nebraska system, including— (1) Howard L. Hawks Hall; (2) a business ethics and leadership chair for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business; (3) Kiewit Hall for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Engineering; (4) the Hawks Championship Center and Hawks Field at Haymarket Park for University of Nebraska-Lincoln athletics; (5) Baxter Arena and the baseball and softball complex for University of Nebraska-Omaha Athletics; (6) the renovation to the Durham Science Center for University of Nebraska-Omaha; (7) the Tim Hawks Chair in Cancer Prevention and Population Science in the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health; (8) the Rhonda and Howard Hawks Movement Disorders Fellowship in the University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Neurological Sciences; (9) the Sharing Clinic, a University of Nebraska Medical Center student-run clinic; and (10) student scholarships; Whereas Hawks served on the executive committee for Campaign for Nebraska: Unlimited Possibilities , a fundraising campaign conducted from 2005 to 2014 that raised $1,800,000,000 in private support for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and Whereas Hawks’ philanthropic commitment extended well beyond the University of Nebraska system, supporting initiatives addressing homelessness and mental health, and supporting education and the arts: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of Howard L. Hawks; (2) honors the life and legacy of Howard L. Hawks for his unwavering dedication to Nebraska as a civic leader and philanthropist; and (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of Howard L. Hawks.