Dallasite Posted December 31, 2005 Share Posted December 31, 2005 DMN's Texan of the Year: Houston10:25 AM CST on Saturday, December 31, 2005By VICTORIA LOE HICKS / The Dallas Morning Newshttp://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...on1.50fcfe.htmlIn 2005, Houston became the heart of Texas. For resilience, resourcefulness and good old Texas neighborliness on a scale that did the whole state proud, Houston is the 2005 Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year. To this day, an estimated 150,000 survivors of hurricanes Katrina and Rita call the Houston area home, and surveys show that most of them plan to stay. When Katrina hurled them, battered and destitute, onto Houston's doorstep, Houston met the challenge with the largest shelter operation in the nation's history. Singling out Houston is no slight to the scores of other communities that opened their arms to the storms' victims, including those right here in North Texas. They, too, performed nobly and deserve vigorous applause. But the demands on Houston, by dint of simple geography, were of a stunningly higher magnitude. Talk to the people at the center of the relief effort, and, over and over, you'll hear words that echo those of Issa Dadoush, the city of Houston's director of building services: "These are Americans. They're our neighbors. If not Houston, who else?" Or, as Harris County Judge Robert Eckels said, "We had no choice. It was just something that needed to be done." To get it done, "we" became far more than government. The extraordinary effort depended on churches, companies, nonprofits and tens of thousands of ordinary people. Commandeered by fate, they responded with the very qualities that distinguish a Texan of the Year: trailblazing, independence, staring down adversity, and affecting or influencing lives. In the office of Houston Mayor Bill White's chief of staff sits a large, glossy sign that admonishes: "Put Your Smile On Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talbot Posted December 31, 2005 Share Posted December 31, 2005 That is a very nice article. It's nice of them to write that for Houston. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted December 31, 2005 Share Posted December 31, 2005 I must say we are humbled by the honor, knowing how much other cities also did to contribute, including Dallas itself. Thank you, Dallasite, for posting the article...and Happy New Year to all of our Dallas friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dallasite Posted December 31, 2005 Author Share Posted December 31, 2005 Thank you, Dallasite, for posting the article...and Happy New Year to all of our Dallas friends. Most welcome and same to you guys/gals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted December 31, 2005 Share Posted December 31, 2005 I second the motion. Although we don't always see eye to eye this article puts things in there proper perspective. Happy New Year everyone!I second Red's motion. Although we don't always see eye to eye, this article puts things in there proper perspective. Happy New Year everyone!I second Red's motion. Although we don't always see eye to eye, this article puts things in there proper perspective. Happy New Year everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted December 31, 2005 Share Posted December 31, 2005 Well that's nice. I think tonight we should all drink a toast to our friends in the Big D. Thanks for posting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest danax Posted January 1, 2006 Share Posted January 1, 2006 Nice to see our brothers from the north patting us on the back but really, any city would've likely done the same thing, we just happened to be the biggest, closest city with the ability to handle the enormous task. And no, I'm not giving Dallas a backhand, I think it's a great city but secretly, I think all of the other cities were glad it was us and not them.If it's ok for a group to be Texan of the year, then it would be truly a great thing if the Katrina victims were to earn that award in a few years once the government assistance has long dried up, earning it by demonstrating that they were able to deal with the hardship, didn't cause our city's crime to rise and became productive citizens, not the government wards and troublemakers that many feared they would be. That would be 1000 times more gratifying than any award. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Hizzy! Posted January 1, 2006 Share Posted January 1, 2006 Very flattering article, indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonfella Posted January 1, 2006 Share Posted January 1, 2006 2006 This can be the year in which Dallas and Houston begins its "sister city" relationship. We are two wonderful cities from the great State of Texas. Let's brag about each other's accomplishments and wish each city the best. Thanks Dallas Morning News for your "Texan of the Year" award to Houston. Houston deserves it, and who would have ever thought about this going to a city, rather than to an individual? No city other than BIG D! Dallas lives large and thinks big. Thank you again, Dallas, for the respect and kindness. This hopefully may be what brings Houston & Dallas together. Now, let's learn from this: not all of Dallas hates Houston and vice versa. Happy New Year to ya, Dallas. You are one great city. Happy New Year, Texas! 'nuff said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
largeTEXAS Posted January 1, 2006 Share Posted January 1, 2006 Cheers Big D! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
713 To 214 Posted January 1, 2006 Share Posted January 1, 2006 Happy New Year H-Town. Let's keep getting better together Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ V Lawrence Posted January 1, 2006 Share Posted January 1, 2006 I respect Dallas more now than ever Now that I think about it, 2005 was a pretty stressful year for us, huh?! Remember when we were all exhaused and angry and tired from doing all the charity work after the disaster happened? Remember the charity basketball game at Toyota Center? Former President Bush and Clinton helped relief efforts. Dr. Phil came to town. Mattress Mac got involved. Houston took center stage as the city with a huge heart because we did everything we could to help the victims anyway we could. Are you thinking about Hurricane Rita and Katrina? 'Cause I was refering to this past January after the Tsunami hit... Houston, I love you all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominax Posted January 2, 2006 Share Posted January 2, 2006 Houston, I love you all They should build something like a bourbon street or sometihing usuall to make New Orleans feel more like at home of what they had. So it would help to bring more of them here into Houston. Like building a All u can eat Popeyes buffets around Houston Build a walk tour along a street with shopping centers and cafes, and more like bourbon street and a couple more interesting things they had for fun also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2112 Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 I am humbled that this article has come from our sister city. Our past missunderstandings have - at least for me - been erased with that one article.Salute to you, Dallas.-2112 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.