By Kubiak                                               H.R. No. 31
       74R2685 KMP-D
                                  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.