By Price H.R. No. 746 74R11047 PFG-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor 1-2 Sterling R. Pruitt for his outstanding service to the City of 1-3 Beaumont as assistant city manager; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Since assuming the myriad responsibilities of this 1-5 demanding office in 1990, Mr. Pruitt has presided over the city's 1-6 planning, management information systems, and community development 1-7 division with enviable skill and in a manner that has enabled this 1-8 thriving Gulf Coast city to operate smoothly and efficiently; 1-9 during his exceptional tenure, he has provided invaluable 1-10 assistance to the city on a host of vital issues and has played an 1-11 integral role in contract negotiations with the local police and 1-12 fire departments, ensuring the continued delivery of these 1-13 fundamental emergency services to local citizens; and 1-14 WHEREAS, This accomplished professional brings to his current 1-15 role a wealth of fiscal and public administration experience that 1-16 he gained from a long and distinguished tenure with the City of 1-17 Phoenix; first employed by that city in 1974 as a management 1-18 assistant in the management and budget department, he soon 1-19 distinguished himself through his adroit handling of various work 1-20 assignments that ranged from directing the evaluation of the city 1-21 vehicle maintenance program to working with local citizens to 1-22 develop city service priorities; and 1-23 WHEREAS, In 1979, he became the senior management assistant 1-24 of the department, gaining the respect of his professional 2-1 colleagues for his wise supervision of a number of important 2-2 budgeting tasks that included the development of multiyear revenue 2-3 and expenditure forecasts; during this period he also was tapped to 2-4 serve as a staff liaison to the larger community, in which capacity 2-5 he provided vital input to groups working to enhance social 2-6 services and government efficiency; and 2-7 WHEREAS, Widely recognized for his impressive management 2-8 skills, Mr. Pruitt was considered a natural choice to fill the 2-9 position of assistant to the deputy city manager of Phoenix in 2-10 1987; in this highly visible role, he helped to manage and 2-11 coordinate the review of the city's operating and capital budgets 2-12 and worked closely with department heads and council members to 2-13 ensure that city goals were being met; his many other duties 2-14 included monitoring women- and minority-owned business 2-15 participation in public works projects, implementing city audit 2-16 report recommendations, and serving on numerous city task forces, 2-17 committees, and boards charged with improving government 2-18 performance; and 2-19 WHEREAS, A graduate of Kansas State College with a degree in 2-20 social science, Mr. Pruitt earned his master's degree in city 2-21 management from the University of Kansas in 1974, and began his 2-22 extraordinary public service career in that midwestern state, 2-23 serving as the general services program director of Southeast 2-24 Kansas Community Action Agency, Inc., while attending graduate 2-25 school; and 2-26 WHEREAS, This remarkable gentleman is highly regarded by his 2-27 peers in the field of public administration, many of whom he has 3-1 come to know through his involvement as an associate member of the 3-2 International City Management Association and the Urban Land 3-3 Institute and as a member of the National Forum for Black Public 3-4 Administrators; and 3-5 WHEREAS, Since assuming his post as assistant city manager of 3-6 Beaumont, Sterling R. Pruitt has provided outstanding service to 3-7 local citizens in the public affairs arena, and the city and its 3-8 residents are indeed fortunate to have secured the talents of this 3-9 accomplished administrator; now, therefore, be it 3-10 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 3-11 Legislature hereby commend Sterling R. Pruitt for his exceptional 3-12 public service career and extend to him sincere best wishes for 3-13 continued success and happiness; and, be it further 3-14 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-15 prepared for Mr. Pruitt as an expression of highest regard by the 3-16 Texas House of Representatives.