By Laney                                               H.R. No. 921
       74R13175 PAN-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, On January 10, 1995, Texas Secretary of State Ron
    1-2  Kirk issued the oath of office to the members of the Texas House of
    1-3  Representatives, 74th Legislature, and, just four months later, he
    1-4  has again participated in a historic moment in the state's history
    1-5  for, with his recent election as mayor of Dallas, he becomes the
    1-6  first African American to head a major Texas city; and
    1-7        WHEREAS, A native of Austin, Mr. Kirk has been involved in
    1-8  governmental affairs throughout much of his adult life; he obtained
    1-9  his law degree from The University of Texas at Austin and later was
   1-10  employed as a legislative assistant in the office of U.S. Senator
   1-11  Lloyd Bentsen in Washington, D.C.; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, Following his return to Texas, he worked at Dallas
   1-13  City Hall as an assistant city attorney and, in that capacity, was
   1-14  charged with lobbying state legislators on the city's behalf; and
   1-15        WHEREAS, This respected attorney joined the firm of Johnson &
   1-16  Gibbs in 1989 and enjoyed a rewarding tenure there until last year
   1-17  when he was named Texas' 98th secretary of state by Governor Ann
   1-18  Richards, becoming the first African American male to hold the
   1-19  office; and
   1-20        WHEREAS, In his successful bid for mayor, Mr. Kirk cut across
   1-21  racial and party lines to appeal to a broad cross-section of city
   1-22  voters with a positive campaign that stressed unity and working
   1-23  together toward a common goal and an increased quality of life for
   1-24  all of the residents of Dallas; and
    2-1        WHEREAS, At this time, it gives the members of this chamber
    2-2  great pleasure to congratulate Mayor-elect Kirk on his achievement
    2-3  and wish him well as he prepares to meet the challenges that lie
    2-4  ahead; now, therefore, be it
    2-5        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
    2-6  Legislature hereby congratulate the Honorable Ron Kirk on his
    2-7  momentous election as mayor of Dallas and commend this outstanding
    2-8  public servant on his extensive contributions to the citizens of
    2-9  this state; and, be it further
   2-10        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-11  prepared for Mr. Kirk as an expression of highest regard by the
   2-12  Texas House of Representatives.