By:  Moncrief                                          S.R. No. 740
    1-1                           SENATE RESOLUTION
    1-2        WHEREAS, On April 21 and 22, 1995, more than 2,500 Special
    1-3  Olympics athletes from the North Texas Region will compete in the
    1-4  North Texas Area Spring Games at The University of Texas at
    1-5  Arlington; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, For the first time, Dallas and Fort Worth are
    1-7  combining the games in Area 10 and Area 11 to make the five
    1-8  sporting events the largest area games in the history of Texas
    1-9  Special Olympics; and
   1-10        WHEREAS, Special Olympics is an international program of
   1-11  year-round sports training and competition for children and adults
   1-12  with mental retardation; and
   1-13        WHEREAS, Its goal is for all persons with mental retardation
   1-14  to have the opportunity to become useful and productive citizens
   1-15  who are accepted and respected in their communities; and
   1-16        WHEREAS, Special Olympics believes that competition among
   1-17  those of equal abilities is the best way to test the athletes'
   1-18  skills, measure their progress, and inspire them to grow; and
   1-19        WHEREAS, It also believes that its program of sports
   1-20  training and competition helps persons with mental retardation
   1-21  become physically fit and grow mentally, socially, and spiritually;
   1-22  families become stronger and communities learn to respect and accept
   1-23  persons with mental retardation in an atmosphere of equality and
    2-1  understanding; and
    2-2        WHEREAS, The Spirit of Special Olympics, which encompasses
    2-3  skill, courage, sharing, and joy, transcends boundaries of geography,
    2-4  nationality, political philosophy, gender, age, race, or religion;
    2-5  and
    2-6        WHEREAS, Special Olympics was established in 1968 when
    2-7  Eunice Kennedy Shriver organized the First International Special
    2-8  Olympics Games at Soldier Field in Chicago; the concept was born
    2-9  in the early 1960s when Mrs. Shriver started a day camp for persons
   2-10  with mental retardation; and
   2-11        WHEREAS, Since that time, millions of children and adults
   2-12  with mental retardation have participated in Texas Special Olympics;
   2-13  now, therefore, be it
   2-14        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
   2-15  74th Legislature, hereby commend and applaud the North Texas Region
   2-16  of the Texas Special Olympics and the more than 2,500 participating
   2-17  athletes and extend best wishes for a most successful and rewarding
   2-18  spring event; and, be it further
   2-19        RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for this
   2-20  distinguished group as an expression of the admiration of the
   2-21  Texas Senate.
   2-22                               ______________________________________
   2-23                                       President of the Senate
   2-24                                    I hereby certify that the above
   2-25                               Resolution was adopted by the Senate
    3-1                               on April 19, 1995.
    3-2                               ______________________________________
    3-3                                       Secretary of the Senate
    3-4                               ______________________________________
    3-5                                        Member, Texas Senate