H.R. No. 1258 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, 1-2 violent juvenile crime in Texas has risen by 52 percent over the 1-3 course of the past decade and between 1985 and 1991 serious crimes 1-4 were being committed by youthful offenders in this state at a rate 1-5 that was twice that of the national average; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Many young, at-risk Texans who turn to delinquency 1-7 and crime are children of poor and broken homes that offer them few 1-8 economic, educational, or social opportunities; in recent years, 1-9 the lack of role models for our state's young citizens also has 1-10 been identified as a key factor in the rapid growth of juvenile 1-11 crime; and 1-12 WHEREAS, These statistics regarding Texas' growing juvenile 1-13 crime rate represent a sobering toll of both human and financial 1-14 costs; among those Texans who have risen to help stem the tide of 1-15 the growing problem are Judge Eddie Harrison and Allen Commander, 1-16 who have labored tirelessly in behalf of Texas' youth through their 1-17 active support of the Buffalo Soldier Heritage Program; and 1-18 WHEREAS, An innovative approach to redirecting at-risk youth, 1-19 the Buffalo Soldier Heritage Program enables children from poor 1-20 families to develop responsible behavior, improve their 1-21 self-esteem, and learn the benefits and rewards of hard work 1-22 through a specially designed curriculum and outdoor skills course; 1-23 and 1-24 WHEREAS, Judge Harrison and Mr. Commander have devoted much 2-1 of their time and talents to the development of many of the 2-2 program's unique and vital components, and their considerable 2-3 contributions to the curriculum have helped the Buffalo Soldier 2-4 Heritage Program achieve its enviable record of success; and 2-5 WHEREAS, The young citizens of Texas hold in their hands the 2-6 future of our state, and those individuals who labor to ensure that 2-7 our children possess both the understanding and the capabilities 2-8 they need to successfully meet that task perform a service truly 2-9 worthy of special legislative recognition; now, therefore, be it 2-10 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-11 Legislature hereby honor Judge Eddie Harrison and Allen Commander 2-12 for their exemplary efforts in helping to secure a brighter future 2-13 for many young Texans through the Buffalo Soldier Heritage Program 2-14 and extend to those fine gentlemen best wishes for continued 2-15 success in their worthy endeavors; and, be it further 2-16 RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared 2-17 for Judge Harrison and Mr. Commander as an expression of high 2-18 regard by the Texas House of Representatives.