Travis County Commissioners Court
October 13, 2009,
Item 2
2.
approve resolution recognizing robert a.
furtado for his devotion and loyalty to the teachings of environmental sciences and the naming of a tributary of bull creek as "furtado creek."
>> would you all like to come on up?
come on up and take the chairs, while you all get settled I will read the resolution.
whereas robert a.furtado helped establish the colorado river watch program in the 1980, whereas mr.
furtado taught his students in Travis County to understand and advocate for the health of local creeks and rivers and be responsible environmental citizens.
whereas testimonials have come from his former students from across the united states, honoring his stewardship and its impact on their lives.
and whereas the united states board on geographic names has approved the naming of a tributary of bull creek to furtado creek, now therefore be it resolved that we the Travis County Commissioners court would like to recognize robert a.
furtado for his devotion, and his loyalty, to the teaching of environmental sciences.
>> second.
>> I move approval.
>> judge seconds.
would you all like to say something?
i would love to hear you all's presentation of this amazing man.
>> thank you.
my name is jacob daniel I work for the lower colorado river authority with the colorado river watch network.
i had the opportunity to work with robert furtado for several years.
he was an inspiration teacher, it's rare to come across a person that has that much of an impact.
years later I meet some of his students and I'm completely amazed at some of the things that the students have been able to accomplish.
i want to thank you all for recognizing him.
i want to thank all of his students, his colleagues and pam matthison and everybody that has been inspirational to me.
we have been trying to couple with them moral.
on Saturday, November 7:00 at 2:00 we will have a commemoration of a beverage at spicewood springs and bull creek.
>> thank you, my name is jack goodman, I was the manager of the colorado river watch network in the '90s.
through '94.
and bob was one of my original teachers.
and I want to echo what danny said.
just thank you all for your all's honor to bob and I think the students being here, his ex-students being here is a testament to their loyalty to him.
i will turn it over to them.
>> my name is jennifer carrow, we have been working on this process of getting the creek named after him and honoring him through a memorial service for about a year and a half.
and so -- it's so pleasing to see it finally get resolved and wrapped up and to be able to do a ceremony like this and to -- to have an honor like this for him.
he was definitely the best teacher of my life and I know that he impacted so many other students to -- to pay attention to their surroundings, take care of their environment and do their best.
>> what years were you his student?
>> I was his student in -- in 1998 to 1999.
>> and for the listening audience, where was he teaching.
>> at anderson high school, he taught freshman biology class.
>> any other comments?
>> I just -- I mostly want to thank these two for sure and everyone who worked really hard to get this going.
i also just wanted to make sure and say that mr.
furtado was the teacher that, you know, would never tell you to go away, that was always there and that just taught such a love for science to all of his students and he taught that by caring about it himself.
and I -- I couldn't say enough good things about the man.
he was definitely an inspiration to me and some many other students.
>> tell us your name, sorry.
>> sorry?
>> tell us your name.
>> joe mock, I was in mr.
furtado's class in '96, I believe, a freshman biology class.
>> that's great.
ms.
carrow how far -- how many different people from geographically where were you coordinating all of this?
>> well, this specifically -- I mean we put up a notice and have over 90 members in a facebook group, former students and friends.
we were coordinating with people and dorothy is in california, I was in communication with the u.s.
geographic board of names to get this -- to get the creek named after him.
so we've been kind of talking to people from coast to coast.
>> that's great.
>> it's really inspiring effort.
>> thanks.
>> > is that a picture of him.
>> this is a picture of mr.
furtado, yes.
>> this plaque is going to be put the at the bench site and it's at the site where we used to go and test every week.
>> good.
>> all in favor?
that carries unanimously.
>> may I give you the -- give you the resolution?
who would like to take the resolution?
>> I will let jennifer take it.<
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Last Modified:
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 2:00 PM
