By Stiles, Price                                      H.C.R. No. 85
       74R5800 SMC-D
                                 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 contributed
    1-7  his invaluable expertise to the banking industry and offered wise
    1-8  and thoughtful guidance as an organizer and director of numerous
    1-9  financial institutions in the Houston area; in recognition of the
   1-10  vast contributions he made to the business community in our state,
   1-11  he was inducted into the prestigious Texas Business Hall of Fame;
   1-12  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 Beaumont
   1-16  Music Commission, United Appeals, and the Beaumont Optimist Club;
   1-17  in addition, this remarkable gentleman was the founder and
   1-18  president of the Joe Louis International Sports Foundation and, in
   1-19  1976, helped to raise over half a million dollars for the
   1-20  organization to the benefit of boys' clubs throughout the country;
   1-21  and
   1-22        WHEREAS,  This dedicated gentleman worked to foster
   1-23  productivity and independence for individuals with mental
   1-24  retardation, and to that end, on July 30, 1979, he donated a
    2-1  building and property to the Beaumont State Center;  the building,
    2-2  called the Hollywood Workcenter, is used to provide supportive
    2-3  employment training to individuals at the center; and
    2-4        WHEREAS,  Ben Rogers's remarkable contributions to the
    2-5  quality of life in Southeast Texas survive his death on December
    2-6  14, 1994, and will continue to have a profound effect on the
    2-7  members of his community, and it is fitting that the Hollywood
    2-8  Workcenter that he helped establish be named in his memory; now,
    2-9  therefore, be it
   2-10        RESOLVED,  That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
   2-11  hereby direct that the present Hollywood Workcenter at the Beaumont
   2-12  State Center be named the Ben Rogers Employment Training Facility
   2-13  as a testament to Mr. Rogers's devotion and service to his
   2-14  community; and, be it further
   2-15        RESOLVED,  That the secretary of state forward an official
   2-16  copy of this resolution to the executive director of the General
   2-17  Services Commission.