By Lewis of Tarrant                                   H.R. No. 1031
       74R13838 WMS-D
                                  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.