By Price                                               H.R. No. 838
       74R12593 SAJ-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The Honorable Arthur Guidry retired from his
    1-2  position on the Port Arthur City Council on May 9, 1995, drawing to
    1-3  a close a distinguished career in public service that has spanned
    1-4  33 years; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, Prior to taking office, Councilman Guidry enjoyed a
    1-6  deeply fulfilling business career; he was the owner of Son's
    1-7  Service Station during the 1940s and later formed a partnership
    1-8  with George Lacey to sell insurance and real estate in 1969; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, A native of Rayne, Louisiana, he also is well
   1-10  regarded throughout the community for his 32 years of service with
   1-11  the Port Arthur Texaco Refinery; he began his career there as a
   1-12  laborer and worked his way up to the position of supervisor, in
   1-13  which capacity he served for 16 years before retiring in 1982; and
   1-14        WHEREAS, Deeply committed to public service, Councilman
   1-15  Guidry was first elected to the Port Arthur City Council in 1962,
   1-16  and he served his fellow citizens in District 7 with integrity and
   1-17  distinction for the next 33 years, amassing the longest tenure of
   1-18  any council member in the city's history; and
   1-19        WHEREAS, His tenure was marked by many significant
   1-20  achievements, and he was instrumental in helping to transform the
   1-21  city into a more modern municipality; Councilman Guidry assisted
   1-22  with several revisions of the city charter to provide for more
   1-23  effective representation for the local citizenry and more efficient
   1-24  government operations; and
    2-1        WHEREAS, He developed a great vision for Port Arthur and
    2-2  helped guide efforts to build virtually every major municipal
    2-3  building in the city, including the city hall, the public library,
    2-4  the civic center, and several fire stations, and he contributed
    2-5  greatly to the state and regional economy when he helped create a
    2-6  deepwater port for the city in the 1960s; and
    2-7        WHEREAS,  A deeply religious man, he receives his spiritual
    2-8  strength as a devout member of Rock Island Baptist Church, where he
    2-9  has worshipped for the past 55 years, and he has served his
   2-10  congregation for many years as both a deacon and church treasurer;
   2-11  and
   2-12        WHEREAS, Throughout his many endeavors, Councilman Guidry has
   2-13  enjoyed the love and support of his devoted wife of 44 years,
   2-14  Bernice May Guidry, and the couple's two fine children, Craig
   2-15  Guidry and Betty Broussard; and
   2-16        WHEREAS, A man of great energy and vision, Councilman Guidry
   2-17  has dedicated much of his life to the betterment of the Port Arthur
   2-18  community, and in doing so, he has greatly enhanced the quality of
   2-19  life for countless Texans, and he is indeed deserving of special
   2-20  praise and recognition on the occasion of his retirement from
   2-21  public service; now, therefore, be it
   2-22        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-23  Legislature hereby commend Councilman Arthur Guidry for his many
   2-24  years of exemplary service to the Port Arthur community and extend
   2-25  best wishes for a happy and rewarding retirement; and, be it
   2-26  further
   2-27        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
    3-1  prepared for Councilman Guidry as an expression of high regard by
    3-2  the Texas House of Representatives.