S.R. No. 528 1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION 1-2 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to 1-3 recognize the Corpus Christi State School on the auspicious 1-4 occasion of its 25th anniversary on April 22, 1995; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Some of the most important individuals responsible 1-6 for the formation of the Corpus Christi State School were the late 1-7 Mrs. Howard E. Butt, and the late State Senator Bruce A. Reagan and 1-8 Governor John B. Connally; and 1-9 WHEREAS, There was a genuine need in South Texas for a 1-10 residential facility for individuals with mental retardation and 1-11 their families because the nearest one was in Austin; Mrs. Butt 1-12 initiated the project and was extremely effective in convincing 1-13 state legislators that the City of Corpus Christi should be the 1-14 site for a new state school; and 1-15 WHEREAS, In addition, she was the most influential individual 1-16 responsible for obtaining the proper design for the school; and 1-17 WHEREAS, Senator Reagan was most helpful in obtaining 1-18 passage of the enabling legislation; without his knowledgeable 1-19 assistance, the legislation might never have reached passage; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Accolades are also in order for the personal 1-21 assistance that the late Governor John B. Connally contributed; 1-22 the popular governor knew that there were not enough residential 1-23 facilities available to meet the needs of individuals with mental 2-1 retardation in South Texas and was vigorous in supporting the 2-2 establishment of a new state school in Corpus Christi; and 2-3 WHEREAS, The Corpus Christi State School was opened in 1970, 2-4 and it primarily serves individuals from 31 South Texas counties; 2-5 the facility is strongly committed to the idea that each person with 2-6 mental retardation is a citizen and has equal rights, and that each 2-7 person can become increasingly independent through positive growth 2-8 and development; and 2-9 WHEREAS, This outstanding institution provides residential 2-10 services 24 hours a day, seven days a week for citizens whose 2-11 severity of disability presently makes them ineligible for living 2-12 in the community; and 2-13 WHEREAS, The facility employs over 900 dedicated and valued 2-14 professionals in an interdisciplinary services delivery system; 2-15 residents have access to medical, dental, nursing, psychological, 2-16 habilitation, and education services as well as ancillary and 2-17 support services; and 2-18 WHEREAS, The 36 buildings of the facility have 215,000 square 2-19 feet of floor space and can accommodate 400 individuals, who may 2-20 additionally have visual, speech, auditory, or sensory disabilities, 2-21 and each disability is addressed by trained professionals who 2-22 specialize in these disabilities; and 2-23 WHEREAS, The Corpus Christi State School has a Community 2-24 Services Division, whose principal mission is to return residents in 2-25 institutions to their community and to prevent institutionalization 3-1 of individuals with mental retardation in the counties served; this 3-2 is accomplished by providing assistance to approximately 631 3-3 individuals who receive an array of services at multiple locales 3-4 which include work centers, community residences, and their own 3-5 homes; and 3-6 WHEREAS, The facility is capably and effectively led by 3-7 Superintendent Aurelio Valdez, Jr., whose dedication to continuous 3-8 quality improvement has contributed significantly to improving the 3-9 quality of services for all residents and customers of Corpus Christi 3-10 State School; and 3-11 WHEREAS, The management of this important facility is most 3-12 effective and efficient and all personnel are to be commended for 3-13 their notable contribution to the State of Texas and the citizens 3-14 receiving services by the Corpus Christi State School as it 3-15 celebrates its 25th anniversary; now, therefore, be it 3-16 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-17 74th Legislature, hereby congratulate the Corpus Christi State 3-18 School on its 25th anniversary of providing superb service to the 3-19 citizens of Texas; and, be it further 3-20 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 3-21 the Corpus Christi State School, the Texas Department of Mental 3-22 Health and Mental Retardation, and the families of the late 3-23 Governor John B. Connally, Senator Bruce Reagan, and 3-24 Mrs. Howard E. Butt as an expression of highest esteem and 3-25 appreciation from the Texas Senate. 4-1 Truan 4-2 Armbrister Henderson Ratliff 4-3 Barrientos Leedom Rosson 4-4 Bivins Lucio Shapiro 4-5 Brown Luna Sibley 4-6 Cain Madla Sims 4-7 Ellis Moncrief Turner 4-8 Gallegos Montford Wentworth 4-9 Galloway Nelson West 4-10 Harris Nixon Whitmire 4-11 Haywood Patterson Zaffirini 4-12 Bullock, President of the Senate 4-13 ______________________________________ 4-14 President of the Senate 4-15 I hereby certify that the above 4-16 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 4-17 on March 23, 1995. 4-18 ______________________________________ 4-19 Secretary of the Senate 4-20 ______________________________________ 4-21 Dean of the Senate