By Black                                               H.R. No. 202
       74R5384 PFG-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, Dr. Ruth Tomlin retired from her post as a guidance
    1-2  counselor with the Killeen Independent School District (KISD) in
    1-3  December of 1994, drawing to a close a quarter century of
    1-4  outstanding service to the young people of her community; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, A native of New York, Dr. Tomlin was the first
    1-6  African-American woman to graduate from the University of Mary
    1-7  Hardin-Baylor; and although she initially was barred from entering
    1-8  the university in 1964 because of segregation, she attended a
    1-9  branch of the institution at Fort Hood, and was eventually able to
   1-10  complete her undergraduate requirements at the university's main
   1-11  campus in Belton and to earn a bachelor's degree in 1967--a
   1-12  personal triumph she counts as one of the most meaningful in her
   1-13  life; and
   1-14        WHEREAS, The list of academic achievements that this gifted
   1-15  scholar subsequently compiled while a student at Texas A&M
   1-16  University includes a master's degree in education and education
   1-17  psychology and a doctoral degree in education administration; and
   1-18        WHEREAS, In addition to pioneering the way for minorities at
   1-19  her alma mater, Dr. Tomlin also accomplished another notable
   1-20  "first" when she joined Killeen High School as its first
   1-21  African-American student teacher and counselor in 1966; and
   1-22        WHEREAS, During her distinguished tenure with the KISD, this
   1-23  consummate professional earned the respect and admiration of her
   1-24  peers for her extraordinary work with young people at Killeen High
    2-1  School and also was selected to share her expertise as a counselor
    2-2  at the Killeen Alternative School, at the Middle Level Learning
    2-3  Center, and, most recently, in the CVGA program; and
    2-4        WHEREAS, Along the way, she gained the lasting friendship of
    2-5  the generations of students she helped to lead productive lives,
    2-6  many of whom remain in touch with her through cards and phone calls
    2-7  from such distant points as California and Alaska; and
    2-8        WHEREAS, Dr. Tomlin was named the recipient of a number of
    2-9  well-deserved accolades for her professional excellence over the
   2-10  years, including a human relations award that was presented to her
   2-11  by the local and state Classroom Teachers Association; and
   2-12        WHEREAS, Dr. Tomlin's list of significant achievements is not
   2-13  limited to the educational arena; she also is a successful
   2-14  businesswoman who is the president and chief executive officer of
   2-15  her own counseling service, Adolescent and Family Counseling
   2-16  Center, as well as a talented public speaker; and
   2-17        WHEREAS, A dedicated and cherished member of her community,
   2-18  she has generously shared her time and leadership skills for many
   2-19  years with numerous worthwhile organizations, including the Killeen
   2-20  Chamber of Commerce, the free clinic committee, and the YMCA, to
   2-21  name but a few; and
   2-22        WHEREAS, Though she has retired from her duties at the KISD,
   2-23  this dynamic individual plans to remain active in her field  by
   2-24  further developing her counseling service and her public speaking
   2-25  career; and
   2-26        WHEREAS, Truly a pillar of her community, Dr. Ruth Tomlin has
   2-27  displayed tremendous dedication, talent, and compassion in all of
    3-1  her endeavors and has dedicated much of her life to helping others
    3-2  reach their full potential; in light of her many significant
    3-3  contributions to her community, she is indeed deserving of special
    3-4  praise and legislative recognition on the occasion of her
    3-5  retirement from the KISD; now, therefore, be it
    3-6        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
    3-7  Legislature hereby commend Dr. Ruth Tomlin for her exemplary record
    3-8  of service to the Killeen Independent School District and extend to
    3-9  her sincere best wishes for continued success and fulfillment in
   3-10  the years to come; and, be it further
   3-11        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   3-12  prepared for Dr. Tomlin as an expression of highest regard by the
   3-13  Texas House of Representatives.