H.R. No. 1031 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Donald R. Walker retired as mayor of the city of 1-2 Forest Hill on May 9, 1995, bringing to a close a distinguished 1-3 tenure in municipal government that has spanned two decades; and 1-4 WHEREAS, A graduate of I. M. Terrell High School in Fort 1-5 Worth, this exemplary Texan began his higher education at the Army 1-6 Management Staff College in Alexandria, Virginia, and after 1-7 graduating from that fine institution, continued his pursuit of 1-8 academic excellence at Lamar University in Beaumont; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Before being elected mayor, Mr. Walker served with 1-10 distinction for four terms as a city council member and also 1-11 distinguished himself as chairman of the Forest Hill Planning and 1-12 Zoning Commission and as a member of the Forest Hill City Charter 1-13 Commission; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Mr. Walker's five terms as mayor of Forest Hill were 1-15 marked by exceptional prosperity and growth; among the many 1-16 projects and programs initiated during his tenure were the 1-17 establishment of a teen court and city library, improved 1-18 recreational facilities, a refined infrastructure, enhanced 1-19 environmental services, and a host of other improvements too 1-20 numerous to mention; and 1-21 WHEREAS, In addition to his accomplishments as mayor, 1-22 Mr. Walker has provided outstanding leadership as a member of such 1-23 worthy organizations as the Tarrant County Mayor's Council, the 1-24 Tarrant County Economic Development Commission, the Tarrant 2000 2-1 Task Force, the Texas Conference of Black Mayors, the National 2-2 Conference of Mayors, and the Texas Municipal League; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Over the course of his remarkable career as a public 2-4 servant, Mr. Walker has been honored with numerous well-deserved 2-5 accolades, including "Trailblazer of the Year" by the Greater Fort 2-6 Worth Area Negro Business and Professional Women's Club and "Man of 2-7 the Year" by the African Methodist Episcopal Church in North Texas; 2-8 he also has been accorded special recognition by the Texas 2-9 Legislative Black Caucus, the Texas Land Commissioner's Office, and 2-10 the National Women of Achievement; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Though he has retired from office as mayor, he is 2-12 continuing his notable service to the community as director of the 2-13 credit union board and as a member of both the Federal Correctional 2-14 Institute Citizen Advisory Council and the Water and Wastewater 2-15 Advisory Committee for the Mayor's Council; and 2-16 WHEREAS, On the homefront, Mr. Walker is supported in all his 2-17 endeavors by his devoted wife, Malinda, and the couple are the 2-18 proud parents of a son, Donald, Jr., who is currently attending St. 2-19 Mary's University in San Antonio; and 2-20 WHEREAS, Mr. Walker's sterling service to his community has 2-21 been a source of inspiration to all who know him, and he can indeed 2-22 look back with tremendous pride and satisfaction on his many 2-23 accomplishments; now, therefore, be it 2-24 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-25 Legislature hereby commend Donald R. Walker for his exceptional 2-26 contributions to the city of Forest Hill throughout his five 2-27 accomplished terms as mayor and extend sincere best wishes to him 3-1 for continued success and happiness in the future; and, be it 3-2 further 3-3 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-4 prepared for Mr. Walker as an expression of high regard by the 3-5 Texas House of Representatives.