PROJECT HISTORY
There is actually very little history to this project, but here goes!
My name is Terri Donawell, and I live in El Paso, Texas, the birthplace of Gene Roddenberry.
In the 1960s, I watched the Original "Star Trek" series. I was young, and from that first run, what I remembered most was the "guy with the pointy ears". That didn’t matter - I knew it had to do with space, and being that my father weaned me onto such authors as Robert Heinlein and Isaac Asimov, I ate it up.
When the original series was finally run in syndication, I watched it again. And again. And again. I had an old cassette tape player I put in front of the tv and taped the shows so I could listen to them yet again. I was hooked. I was now also old enough to understand that this series was not just a romp in space, but held a far more profound message.
To not ramble on forever, but to make sure it is understood, I have made a point of watching every movie, every episode, ever cartoon that has been made. I have attended all the conventions possible held in El Paso. I have collected books and other memorabilia, but not as much as others. For me, it is more the stories and the lesson taught by Gene.
I was probably in high school when I discovered Gene was born in El Paso. I thought that was the greatest discovery in the world - the man who created "Star Trek" was born in the same city as I.
Jump forward another twenty or so years. I read in the local paper, the El Paso Times that the El Paso Independent School District is FINALLY going to dedicate their Planetarium to Gene Roddenberry (the had named it the year before). There is a phone number listed, which I call. I am invited to attend the dedication, which I do, where I actually get to meet Gene’s son Rod. During the time after the invitation and prior to the actual dedication, I have the idea that the City of El Paso should pass a Proclamation declaring October 4, 2002, and every October 4th hereafter "Gene Roddenberry Day", which they do. Tony Cobos, the City Council Representative for District #8 is a Trekkie, and he got it passed.
At the actual dedication, as I am talking with Rod, John Peterson (the Gene Roddenberry Planetarium’s Executive Director) and Tony Cobos, I have the idea that a street should be named after Gene. And, since no other native-born El Pasoan has anything close to Gene’s resume, I say it should be a big street - it should be Interstate 10! The group agrees with me, as do others that night and since.
I did the research, drafted a City Council Resolution supporting the legislation, drafted the legislation, and provided it to Tony Cobos and Representative Joe Pickett. I also sent a copy of the same package to each of the El Paso State legislative delegation. In my campaign to convince the legislators, I sent out many, many e-mails, and researched more to send to. One I sent made its way to an angel at Paramount Studios who is willing to help. One of her suggestions was to set up a web site, so here it is!
On February 13, 2003, Representative Pat Haggerty introduced House Bill 949. The bill was introduced, was assigned to the House Committee of Border and International Affairs, and has been read into the record once.
I have researched and found the Senate Sister Committee to the House Committee - the International Relations and Trade Committee. I have sent them information urging them to introduce and pass the necessary sister bill to House Bill 949.
Please keep voting and showing your support! Write the legislators and let your voice be heard. I am sending hard copies of everyone’s comments and e-mails to each of the legislators, but your direct contact will speak volumes.
Thank you very much for visiting this site, for your time, and for your support. Let’s get this done!