H.C.R. No. 85 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, Ben Rogers contributed significantly to the 1-2 citizens of this state as a business leader and philanthropist who 1-3 demonstrated an exemplary concern for the well-being of others; and 1-4 WHEREAS, As a young man, he settled in Beaumont with his 1-5 brothers and together they established Texas State Optical; and 1-6 WHEREAS, A man of many interests and talents, he also 1-7 contributed his invaluable expertise to the banking industry and 1-8 offered wise and thoughtful guidance as an organizer and director 1-9 of numerous financial institutions in the Beaumont and Houston 1-10 areas; in recognition of the vast contributions he made to the 1-11 business community in our state, he was inducted into the 1-12 prestigious Texas Business Hall of Fame; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Mr. Rogers continued to work for the betterment of 1-14 the Southeast Texas community through his service as president of 1-15 the Beaumont and Sabine Neches Chambers of Commerce, the Central 1-16 City Development Corporation, the Beaumont Music Commission, United 1-17 Appeals, and the Beaumont Optimist Club; in addition, this 1-18 remarkable gentleman was the founder and president of the Joe Louis 1-19 International Sports Foundation and, in 1976, helped to raise over 1-20 half a million dollars for the organization to the benefit of boys' 1-21 clubs throughout the country; and 1-22 WHEREAS, As a result of his leadership, facilities have been 1-23 provided in Beaumont for Boys Haven, the Minnie Rogers Juvenile 1-24 Home, the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, United Appeals, the YMCA, the 2-1 new Art Museum of Southeast Texas, the Babe Zaharias Museum, and 2-2 the Julie and Ben Rogers Cancer Institute; and 2-3 WHEREAS, This dedicated gentleman worked to foster 2-4 productivity and independence for individuals with mental 2-5 retardation, and to that end, on July 30, 1979, he donated a 2-6 building and property to the Beaumont State Center; the building, 2-7 called the Hollywood Workcenter, is used to provide supportive 2-8 employment training to individuals at the center; and 2-9 WHEREAS, Ben Rogers's remarkable contributions to the 2-10 quality of life in Southeast Texas survive his death on December 2-11 14, 1994, and will continue to have a profound effect on the 2-12 members of his community, and it is fitting that the Hollywood 2-13 Workcenter that he helped establish be named in his memory; now, 2-14 therefore, be it 2-15 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-16 hereby direct that the present Hollywood Workcenter at the Beaumont 2-17 State Center be named the Ben Rogers Employment Training Facility 2-18 as a testament to Mr. Rogers's devotion and service to his 2-19 community; and, be it further 2-20 RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official 2-21 copy of this resolution to the executive director of the General 2-22 Services Commission.