Filed for intro on 02/24/99 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 101 By Fowlkes A RESOLUTION to designate Margaret "Maggi" Britton Vaughn as Poet Laureate of Tennessee for the term of her natural life. WHEREAS, Margaret Britton Vaughn of Bell Buckle, Tennessee is an inspirational poet and one of the most distinguished interpreters of the rural South; and WHEREAS, Maggi Vaughn (the name by which she is known) has served with distinction as Poet-in-Residence for the Tennessee Arts Education program; and WHEREAS, a popular keynote speaker, Maggi has traveled throughout the United States giving poetry readings and telling her Southern stories to appreciative audiences at literary festivals, civic gatherings, business conventions, and academic conferences, in addition to churches, libraries, schools, and universities; and WHEREAS, because of her natural talent and her appeal to audiences of all ages and backgrounds, Ms. Vaughn has appeared on many television programs on PBS, CBS, USA, TNN, TNT, and the BBC; and WHEREAS, one of her most notable television appearances was her interview on the television program, “Tennessee Crossroads,” where she was recognized as the leading contemporary Tennessee poet; and HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 101 003026 -1- WHEREAS, Maggi credits country music for her eloquent, poetic voice; her superbly crafted songs have been recorded by some of country music’s most successful and famous performers, including Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, and Ernest Tubb; and WHEREAS, a Murfreesboro native, Maggi Vaughn’s first critically acclaimed book, Fifty Years of Saturday Nights, was published in 1975; and WHEREAS, her other outstanding works include Grand Ole Saturday Nights, a revision of her first books, The Light in the Kitchen Window, Kin, Acres that Grow Stones, and Life's Down to Old Women's Shoes; and WHEREAS, Ms. Vaughn has also proven herself to be a worthy playwright by penning the exceptional play, I Wonder if Eleanor Roosevelt Ever Made a Quilt, which was written for the National Quilters Convention; and WHEREAS, widely recognized as an amazing literary talent, Maggi’s wonderful poetry has appeared in many distinguished magazines, journals, and newspapers; and WHEREAS, she is the highly revered author of the official Bicentennial Poem of Tennessee, “Who We Are”; and WHEREAS, she also brilliantly penned the Governor’s inaugural poem, and her exceptional poem commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the Air Force has been read into the Congressional Record; and WHEREAS, Maggi Vaughn’s crowning achievement came when she was named Poet Laureate of Tennessee in 1995 by House Joint Resolution No. 133 of the Ninety-Ninth General Assembly; and WHEREAS, after her two-year term was complete, Ms. Vaughn’s tenure was extended to April 1, 2000 by House Joint Resolution No. 404 of the Ninety-Ninth General Assembly; and - 2 - 00302684 WHEREAS, Maggi strongly believes in the power of the written word, and despite her busy schedule, she devotes much of her time to encouraging, helping, and promoting promising writers of all ages; and WHEREAS, this distinguished Tennessee bard is renowned as a poet of the people whose writings have a unique ability to evoke laughter and tears simultaneously, and her writings inspire and enthrall readers and listeners from all walks of life; and WHEREAS, it is now time for this eminent poet to rightfully lay claim to an even more august title; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE CONCURRING, That in recognition and appreciation of her numerous contributions to Southern poetry, and her other laudable endeavors in service of Tennessee, Margaret “Maggi” Britton Vaughn is hereby designated as Poet Laureate of Tennessee, for the term of her natural life. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy. - 3 - 00302684.