By: Finnell H.R. No. 162 73R3666 NBM-F R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, After an outstanding 25-year career as a law 1-2 enforcement officer and a 15-year tenure as Clay County Sheriff, 1-3 Jake Bogard recently announced that he would step down from his 1-4 post, much to the regret and sorrow of the area residents whom he 1-5 has served with exemplary vigor and dedication; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Informed by his doctors that he had become afflicted 1-7 with cancer, Sheriff Bogard made the painful decision to step down 1-8 when he realized that his illness and the ongoing treatment that it 1-9 entailed prevented him from performing to the best of his ability, 1-10 and that anything less than his utmost dedication would be a 1-11 disservice to the citizens of Clay County; and 1-12 WHEREAS, That decision brought to an untimely close a chapter 1-13 in a law enforcement saga that began more than a quarter of a 1-14 century ago in Hockley County when he took on the job of deputy 1-15 sheriff and that in the ensuing years was to earn him the lasting 1-16 respect and admiration of all who had the privilege of working with 1-17 him; and 1-18 WHEREAS, After serving in the sheriff's departments in Lynn, 1-19 Yoakum, and Wichita counties, he ran for sheriff of Clay County in 1-20 1976 and won, beginning the first of several successive terms in 1-21 January 1977; and 1-22 WHEREAS, A former ranch hand and an expert horseman riding 1-23 tall in the saddle when the need arose, Sheriff Bogard was cut in 1-24 the classic mold of a Texas peace officer and he has proven himself 2-1 a consummate professional who has transformed the Clay County 2-2 Sheriff's office into a well-staffed, well-equipped, up-to-date 2-3 department capable of responding to the constant forces of change 2-4 affecting the North Texas community; and 2-5 WHEREAS, Beginning his first term with only a deputy to 2-6 assist him, he oversaw the consolidation of the sheriff's office 2-7 with the police department and then gradually built his staff to 2-8 the point where it could provide vital law enforcement services 2-9 throughout the county with greater speed and efficiency; and 2-10 WHEREAS, The exemplary diligence and dedication with which he 2-11 has approached his profession has left an indelible mark on the 2-12 department he headed for so many years, and the citizens of Clay 2-13 County undoubtedly will continue to benefit from his outstanding 2-14 legacy of service to the community for years to come; it is 2-15 appropriate, then, for the members of this body to join with those 2-16 citizens in an appropriate tribute to this exceptional public 2-17 servant on the occasion of his retirement; now, therefore, be it 2-18 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas 2-19 Legislature hereby honor Clay County Sheriff Jake Bogard on his 2-20 commendable record of service to the community and extend to him 2-21 best wishes for a full recovery and victory in his courageous fight 2-22 against cancer; and, be it further 2-23 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-24 prepared for Sheriff Bogard as an expression of high esteem by the 2-25 Texas House of Representatives.