By Maxey, Greenberg, Naishtat, Dukes, Combs            H.R. No. 140
       74R5039 PAN-D
                                  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.