H.R. No. 140 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, January 22, 1995, marked the first anniversary of 1-2 the passing of Sherry Anne Root, a woman who in the last two years 1-3 of her life transcended her own personal tragedy to save the lives 1-4 of others by spreading the critical message of AIDS prevention; and 1-5 WHEREAS, The beloved daughter of Donna and Dennis Root, she 1-6 was born on May 18, 1966, in La Puente, California, and moved in 1-7 her preteen years with her family to Austin, where she was 1-8 graduated from Westwood High School and earned a college business 1-9 diploma; and 1-10 WHEREAS, In July 1991, at the age of 25, Ms. Root was stunned 1-11 to be diagnosed with the AIDS virus; determined to make a 1-12 difference in the time she had left, Ms. Root joined the Speakers 1-13 Bureau of AIDS Services of Austin, which helped her to develop her 1-14 speaking ability when she decided to share her story with others; 1-15 and 1-16 WHEREAS, She gave her first speech to Pflugerville High 1-17 School students and the overwhelming support she received from the 1-18 students fueled her determination to continue to speak on the topic 1-19 of AIDS prevention to as many young people as possible; despite her 1-20 failing health, she addressed more than 40,000 students, parents, 1-21 and teachers in Texas over the course of the next two years; and 1-22 WHEREAS, Sherry Anne Root was only 27 years old when AIDS 1-23 claimed her life; in choosing to share her painful story with 1-24 others, she helped many people to realize that the disease is not a 2-1 selective one, but rather is one that touches the lives of 2-2 countless Texans each and every day; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Sherry Anne Root made a profound impact with her 2-4 heartrending message of AIDS prevention; though she is one of more 2-5 than 17,000 Texans who have lost their lives to AIDS, no one can 2-6 ever measure the number of lives she saved by sharing her story 2-7 with others; now, therefore, be it 2-8 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-9 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life and work of Sherry Anne 2-10 Root and extend deepest sympathy to the members of her family: to 2-11 her parents, Donna and Dennis Root; to her sisters, Shawn L. Massey 2-12 and Ahna Root Hanley; to her brother, David W. Root; and to her 2-13 large extended family of caring relatives and dear friends; and, be 2-14 it further 2-15 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-16 prepared for the members of her family and that when the Texas 2-17 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of 2-18 Sherry Anne Root.