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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, James E. Smith retired as superintendent of North |
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Texas State Hospital on May 31, 2023, drawing to a close an |
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exceptional career in the Texas mental health system that spanned |
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nearly half a century; and |
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WHEREAS, Jim Smith previously served as chief executive |
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officer and superintendent of the Vernon and Wichita Falls State |
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Hospitals; in 1996, the administrations of the two facilities were |
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combined under his leadership, and in 1998, they were consolidated |
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as what would become North Texas State Hospital; overseeing the |
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state's largest psychiatric hospital, Mr. Smith helped raise the |
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level of care for patients on the facility's three campuses, which |
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today provide inpatient psychiatric services for adults and youth |
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and an adolescent forensic program; and |
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WHEREAS, A licensed clinical social worker and diplomate in |
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clinical social work, Mr. Smith has helped lead numerous mental |
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health organizations; currently, he presides over the Southern |
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States Psychiatric Hospital Association, and he is a past chair of |
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the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors |
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Forensic Division; he is involved with the Wichita County |
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Healthcare Coalition, and he has lent his expertise to the Joint |
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Committee on Access and Forensic Services and to the Joint |
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Commission Suicide Risk Reduction Expert Panel; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply committed to the mission of North Texas State |
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Hospital, Jim Smith played a vital role in promoting the health and |
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well-being of his fellow Texans, and he may indeed reflect with |
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pride on a job well done as he embarks on the next exciting chapter |
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of his life; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature, 1st |
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Called Session, hereby congratulate James E. Smith on his |
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retirement as superintendent of North Texas State Hospital and |
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extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Smith as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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Senate. |