WASHINGTON – April 17, 2018 – Patrick Butler, president and chief executive officer of America’s Public Television Stations, made the following statement on the death of Barbara Bush:
“America’s Public Television Stations mourn the passing of Barbara Bush, a pioneer in the national literacy movement whose influence helped millions of Americans enrich their lives through the joy of reading.
“I first met Mrs. Bush more than 30 years ago, when as America’s Second Lady, she welcomed me to the Vice President’s residence for our first conversation on how media companies could encourage literacy among Americans of all ages.
“Public television is proud of its role in lifelong learning for millions of Americans, and we are keenly aware that the foundation for all of that learning is the ability to read.
“Barbara Bush has many things to be proud of in her long and eventful life, but the nation is deeply indebted to her for making us a more literate, more civilized, more successful society – a contribution of incalculable value.”
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About APTS
America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization ensuring a strong and financially sound public television system and helping member stations provide essential public services in education, public safety and civic leadership to the American people. For more information, visit www.apts.org.
Contact: Stacey Karp
202-654-4222
skarp@apts.org