• Office of Governor William P. Clements, Jr. March 13, 1979 For Immediate Release: Governor Bill Clements today announced that the Moody Foundation of Galveston has awarded the Texas Commission on the Arts and Humanities a $65,000 grant for restoration of the front hall, stairway, and back corridor of the Governor's Mansion. The grant, accepted by Mrs. Rita Clements, was initiated by Mrs. Janey Briscoe, wife of former Governor Dolph Briscoe. The restoration work on these parts of the mansion is scheduled to begin this summer. Governor Clements said, "This grant is an indication of what we will be doing in the future in regards to restoring the Governor's Mansion. We intend to seek funds from private sources for furnishing and decorating the mansion in the style of the era in which it was built. State funds, in an amount to be determined by the Legislature, will be used only to make the necessary structural repairs." He added, "Our goal is to restore the mansion to its status as the number one historical house in Texas, and in doing so we intend to encourage the development of the broadest base of financial support possible to make this truly a project for all Texans." Edward Protz, executive director of the Moody Foundation, said, "Mary Moody Northen, chairman of the board of the foundation, has a great commitment to the preservation of the heritage of Texas and its great historical buildings." He also said, "The Moody Foundation is pleased to join in the restoration of one of the state's 'lust important buildings. We hope this will set the stage for complete restoration of the mansion, in order to give future generations an understanding of the role the mansion has played in the development of this state and of the great heritage of Texas." -- 30 --