By Hightower H.R. No. 459
74R8084 PFG-D
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, On April 22, 1995, Charles G. Shandera will retire
1-2 from his post with the Montgomery County Department of Community
1-3 Supervision and Corrections, drawing to a close a distinguished
1-4 career in the field of criminal justice that has spanned more than
1-5 four decades; and
1-6 WHEREAS, A graduate of Sam Houston State University,
1-7 Mr. Shandera embarked on his career in 1951 as a juvenile probation
1-8 officer in Harris County and proved so exemplary in his post that
1-9 he was tapped to head the new adult probation department as the
1-10 county's first chief adult probation officer in 1958; armed with
1-11 only an assistant and a secretary, Mr. Shandera had transformed the
1-12 bare bones department into a model program with more than 100
1-13 employees by 1972, during which period he helped to define the role
1-14 of probation in this state as a realistic alternative to
1-15 incarceration; and
1-16 WHEREAS, His significant achievements in Harris County led to
1-17 his appointment in 1972 by Judge John F. Onion to the Texas Board
1-18 of Pardons and Paroles, an entity to which he provided invaluable
1-19 leadership and insight over the course of an outstanding eight-year
1-20 tenure; he served with the utmost distinction as the board's
1-21 commissioner from 1976 until 1980, when he left to join the private
1-22 sector as the founder and director of The Next Step, Inc., a
1-23 halfway house for adult offenders; and
1-24 WHEREAS, In that capacity, Mr. Shandera applied the wealth of
2-1 knowledge and expertise he had gained from his many years of
2-2 working with the state criminal justice system to help numerous
2-3 individuals get a second chance at life and his efforts in that
2-4 regard had a profound impact on the lives of all who were served by
2-5 this vital community resource; and
2-6 WHEREAS, Mr. Shandera returned to public service in 1983 as a
2-7 principal organizer of the Texas Criminal Justice Policy Council,
2-8 the entity that oversees criminal justice policy and planning in
2-9 Texas, and helped to launch the new agency as its executive
2-10 director in its first year of operation; and
2-11 WHEREAS, In his current position as a probation officer and
2-12 special services manager for Montgomery County, this experienced
2-13 criminal justice veteran has drawn on his extensive background to
2-14 design many innovative and successful programs of benefit to the
2-15 area, such as the Montgomery County Treatment Center and the
2-16 Montgomery County Anti-DWI Project; and
2-17 WHEREAS, The date of Mr. Shandera's retirement marks another
2-18 important milestone in his life as it is the 31st anniversary of
2-19 his marriage to his wife, Dorothy, with whom he has shared an
2-20 extraordinarily happy and rewarding union that has served as a
2-21 constant source of support throughout his many endeavors; and
2-22 WHEREAS, Charles G. Shandera has dedicated his career to
2-23 improving the criminal justice system in Texas and his efforts have
2-24 greatly benefitted the citizens of this state and earned him the
2-25 lasting respect and admiration of his peers; in recognition of his
2-26 numerous achievements in this regard, this remarkable gentleman
2-27 indeed merits special praise and recognition on the occasion of his
3-1 retirement; now, therefore, be it
3-2 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
3-3 Legislature hereby commend Charles G. Shandera for his exceptional
3-4 contributions to the criminal justice system in Texas and extend to
3-5 him warmest best wishes for continued happiness as he begins his
3-6 well-deserved retirement; and, be it further
3-7 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-8 prepared for Mr. Shandera as an expression of highest regard by the
3-9 Texas House of Representatives.