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From: kate@bga.com (Katherine Catmull)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
Subject: Texas Honors Boston Strangler--Cite
Date: Wed, 06 Mar 1996 19:13:49 -0600

[Copied verbatim, including comma faults; small error in transcription from resolution corrected in brackets]

The Austin American
Friday, April 2, 1971
[front page]

April Fool!
House 'Honors' Boston Strangler

Capitol Staff

The House approved unanimously Thursday a resolution honoring the Boston alleged Strangler.

The resolution introduced by Rep. Tom Moore Jr., of Waco as an "April fool's joke" passed without dissent during routine House business Thursday.

Moore later withdrew the resolution, bringing chuckles from several of his colleagues who had joined in the prank.

The resolution praises Albert de Salvo, the self-proclaimed Boston Strangler for his "unselfish" service to his country and community and his "pioneering efforts in population control techniques."

"Above all, this compassionate gentleman's dedication and devotion to his work has enabled the weak and the lonely throughout our nation to achieve and maintain a new degree of concern for their future," the resolution says.

"His sincerity, diligence and cooperation has earned him [the] warm admiration and affection of his fellow practitioners," the resolution continued.

"Widely esteemed for his knowledge and unique skill, his outstanding service to the public has won him recognition as a model of active citizenship, a champion of worthwhile causes and an acknowledged leader in his singular field."

It also provided that a copy of the resolution be sent to De Salvo "as a token of the continued good wishes of the Texas House of Representatives."

Moore insisted that the resolution was just a joke, but one representative said it has serious overtones.

"It just proves you could pass anything in the House," the representative said.

And while I'm at it, here's another near-contemporaneous reference from the liberal weekly The Texas Observer.

The Texas Observer
Vol. LXIII, No. 12 June 18, 1971
[page 3]

The 62nd Legislature: Well, it could have been worse K.N. [almost certainly editor Kaye Northcutt; Molly Ivins was then co-editor] . . . . . .

The more whimsical may point out that it was the year that the House passed a resolution honoring the Boston Strangler by mistake and the Senate commended Lieutenant William Calley on purpose. . . . . . .

My work here is done; back to lurkerdom.

Kate "small town report: same 1971 front page has a photo of my ex-boyfriend's dad! Cool!" Catmull

--
"Be the voice of night and Florida in my ear."