H.R. No. 31 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The members of the Texas House of Representatives 1-2 are proud to honor Mike Buzbee, for his many outstanding 1-3 contributions to the goal of preventing juvenile crime; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Mr. Buzbee's inspirational leadership as executive 1-5 director of the Gulf Coast Trades Center has helped to ensure a 1-6 better future for Texas children through the center's innovative 1-7 partnerships between law enforcement officials and community 1-8 organizations; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Founded 23 years ago, this nonprofit group provides 1-10 needed services to disadvantaged youthful offenders referred by 1-11 county probation departments, the Department of Protective and 1-12 Regulatory Services, and the Texas Youth Commission; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Located in New Waverly, Texas, inside the beautiful 1-14 Sam Houston National Forest, the Gulf Coast Trades Center offers 1-15 its students counseling, drug treatment, job training, and 1-16 recreational activities; and 1-17 WHEREAS, The youngsters also gain valuable experience and 1-18 become involved with the community by building homes for Walker 1-19 County Habitat for Humanity, erecting facilities for the U.S. 1-20 Forest Service, and constructing classrooms for local students; 1-21 through an extensive community-based work experience program, these 1-22 young people are placed in subsidized jobs in the local area and in 1-23 city and county government jobs, where they learn the personal and 1-24 professional skills needed to become contributing members of 2-1 society; and 2-2 WHEREAS, In addition to these many programs, the Gulf Coast 2-3 Trades Center allows students to work toward certification in nine 2-4 different trades and provides an outstanding academic education, 2-5 using state-of-the-art media to give its students the edge they 2-6 need in today's competitive job market; and 2-7 WHEREAS, Mr. Buzbee has played a key role in coordinating the 2-8 center's efforts with those of other organizations; to ensure that 2-9 youthful offenders are given the care and rehabilitative services 2-10 they need to return to their home communities, the Gulf Coast 2-11 Trades Center develops its programs in coordination with local 2-12 schools, county and state youth agencies, and private service 2-13 providers; and 2-14 WHEREAS, The center has been recognized by a variety of 2-15 organizations for its outstanding work in behalf of our state's 2-16 children, including Houston Works, the Ford Motor Company, the 2-17 Texas Department of Community Affairs, and the National Governor's 2-18 Association, and in 1994 received an attorney general's criminal 2-19 justice award for community service; and 2-20 WHEREAS, In light of the outstanding contributions this group 2-21 has made to the education and rehabilitation of disadvantaged 2-22 youth, it is indeed appropriate that the Gulf Coast Trades Center 2-23 and its director, Mike Buzbee, be commended; now, therefore, be it 2-24 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-25 Legislature hereby honor Mike Buzbee for his exemplary work in 2-26 behalf of the children and families of the Lone Star State; and, be 2-27 it further 3-1 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-2 prepared for Mr. Buzbee as an expression of high esteem by the 3-3 Texas House of Representatives.