1.1A Senate resolution
1.2honoring the life of Mary Tyler Moore.
1.3WHEREAS, Mary Tyler Moore was born in Brooklyn, New York, to George Tyler Moore
1.4and his wife Marjorie Hackett, and was the oldest of three siblings; her family lived in the Flatbush
1.5section of Brooklyn, but moved to Los Angeles when she was eight years old; and
1.6WHEREAS, deciding at age 17 that she wanted to be a dancer, Mary's first television job
1.7was as "Happy Hotpoint," a tiny elf dancing on Hotpoint appliances in TV commercials during the
1.81950s series "Ozzie and Harriet"; Mary soon began landing regular television roles on such programs
1.9as "Richard Diamond, Private Detective," "Overland Trail," and "The Tab Hunter Show"; and
1.10WHEREAS, in 1961, Carl Reiner cast her in the co-lead role of "The Dick Van Dyke Show,"
1.11and her memorable, witty, energetic comedic take on the character of Laura Petrie made both Mary
1.12and her signature capri pants extremely popular internationally, and she received the first of many
1.13Emmy awards; in 1970, Mary and her husband Grant Tinker successfully pitched a sitcom to CBS
1.14that centered on her, and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," a newsroom sitcom set in Minneapolis
1.15that also featured Ed Asner, Valerie Harper, Cloris Leachman, Gavin MacLeod, and Ted Knight,
1.16became a major hit, with a unique approach at the time that depicted the life of a single, never-married
1.17independent career woman at work and at home; and
1.18WHEREAS, featuring Sonny Curtis's memorable theme song, "Love is All Around," with
1.19the iconic line "Who can turn the world on with her smile?" and an opening sequence that always
1.20concluded with Mary tossing her hat in front of Dayton's department store after featuring such
1.21signature exterior Minneapolis locations as Nicollet Mall, the Crystal Court of the IDS Center, the
1.22Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, Riverside Plaza, and a house on Kenwood Parkway, "The Mary Tyler
1.23Moore Show" became a cultural phenomenon; the show was hailed for its groundbreaking impact
1.24on television and for its willingness to challenge stereotypical images of women, and to this day it
1.25remains an inspiration for working women; and
2.1WHEREAS, during its seven seasons, the show racked up 29 Emmy awards and spun off
2.2three other television series, "Rhoda," "Phyllis," and "Lou Grant"; while Mary had previously
2.3starred in several feature films, she received an Oscar nomination for her powerful portrayal of a
2.4grieving mother in 1980's "Ordinary People"; and
2.5WHEREAS, Mary and Grant Tinker founded MTM Enterprises, which produced "The Mary
2.6Tyler Moore Show" several other popular American sitcoms and drama series such as "The Bob
2.7Newhart Show," "WKRP in Cincinnati," and "Hill Street Blues"; she continued to work in television
2.8and movies while becoming active in charity work and various political causes, particularly the
2.9issues of animal rights and diabetes, having been diagnosed herself with type 1 diabetes early in
2.10the run of the "Mary Tyler Moore Show"; and she wrote two memoirs, which also addressed her
2.11battle with alcoholism; and
2.12WHEREAS, on May 8, 2002, cable TV network TV Land dedicated an 8-foot tall bronze
2.13statue of Mary tossing her hat on Nicollet Mall, and Moore herself unveiled the statue, with 3,000
2.14tam hats distributed to the assembled crowd for a commemorative hat toss; and
2.15WHEREAS, Mary Tyler Moore passed away on January 25, 2017, at the age of 80, and will
2.16be dearly missed by her family, friends, and fans worldwide, particularly in Minnesota, where her
2.17impact has always understandably been felt most strongly, due to the setting of her most memorable
2.18and enduring role as Mary Richards; and
2.19NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it
2.20honors the life and work of Mary Tyler Moore, and extends sincere condolences to her family and
2.21friends upon her passing.
2.22BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare an
2.23enrolled copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that of the
2.24Chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to her loving husband of
2.2533 years, Dr. Robert Levine.

Cal R. LudemanSecretary of the Senate

Paul E. GazelkaChair, Senate Committee onRules and Administration

D. Scott DibbleState Senator, District 61