1-1 By: Olivo (Senate Sponsor - Ellis) H.C.R. No. 236 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 16, 1997; 1-3 May 17, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on 1-4 Administration; May 18, 1997, reported favorably by the following 1-5 vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 18, 1997, sent to printer.) 1-6 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-7 WHEREAS, Judge Jodie E. Stavinoha has distinguished himself 1-8 as a dedicated public servant as well as a vital and valued member 1-9 of the community, and his many contributions to his fellow Texans 1-10 are indeed worthy of special praise and recognition; and 1-11 WHEREAS, A veteran of the United States Navy, Judge Stavinoha 1-12 graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame before 1-13 embarking on a career as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of 1-14 Investigation, and he served in that capacity for more than a 1-15 quarter of a century before leaving the bureau in 1976; and 1-16 WHEREAS, After working as an assistant vice president at 1-17 Republic Bank of Houston, Judge Stavinoha in 1979 became county 1-18 judge of Fort Bend County, and his 12 years in office were 1-19 characterized by his deep concern for the welfare of his 1-20 constituents; an eloquent advocate for those less fortunate, he 1-21 labored diligently to increase the availability of health and 1-22 social services; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Through the years Judge Stavinoha has given freely 1-24 of his time and energy to a number of worthy causes, devoting 1-25 special attention to the needs of the mentally retarded; a founding 1-26 member and past chairman of the Riceland Regional Mental Health 1-27 Authority for more than eight years, he has also served the United 1-28 Way of the Texas Gulf Coast, the Houston Area Red Cross, the Fort 1-29 Bend County Health Council, and the Richmond State School's 1-30 regional advisory board and group home advisory committee; and 1-31 WHEREAS, His volunteer work is not limited to the field of 1-32 health care, for he has lent his leadership abilities to such 1-33 worthy endeavors as the Houston/Galveston Area Council of 1-34 Governments, the Needville and Rosenberg/Richmond Area chambers of 1-35 commerce, the American Legion, and the Knights of Columbus; he was 1-36 also a founding member of both the Fort Bend Arts Council and the 1-37 Fort Bend Economic Development Council; and 1-38 WHEREAS, The great esteem in which Judge Stavinoha is held by 1-39 his fellow citizens is evident from the many honors he has been 1-40 accorded; the namesake of both a bridge and a "New Beginnings Home" 1-41 at Trinity Life Ranch, he has also received the Fort Bend Regional 1-42 Council Visionary Award for Alcohol & Drug Abuse and the Book of 1-43 Golden Deeds Award for Outstanding Service to the Citizens of Fort 1-44 Bend County; and 1-45 WHEREAS, Throughout his remarkable career, Judge Stavinoha 1-46 has drawn strength and inspiration from his large and loving 1-47 family, and he and his wife, Mary Jane Radcliffe Stavinoha, take 1-48 great pride and joy in their children and their children's spouses: 1-49 Mary Therese Stavinoha Stark and James Edward Stark; John Radcliffe 1-50 Stavinoha; Theodore Joseph Stavinoha; James Edward Stavinoha; Dr. 1-51 Peter Llewellyn Stavinoha and Dr. Kimberly Francis Crook Stavinoha; 1-52 and Daniel Desmond Stavinoha; and their grandchildren: Bryan 1-53 Thomas Stark, Meghan Kristine Stark, Kathleen Elizabeth Stark, 1-54 Patrick Joseph Stark, Daniel James Stark, and Joseph Herbert 1-55 Stavinoha; and 1-56 WHEREAS, Judge Stavinoha's commitment to the common good has 1-57 benefited his fellow citizens to an immeasurable extent, and it is 1-58 indeed fitting that we recognize his many accomplishments at this 1-59 time; now, therefore, be it 1-60 RESOLVED, That the 75th Texas Legislature of the State of 1-61 Texas hereby honor Judge Jodie E. Stavinoha for his lifetime of 1-62 service and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success 1-63 and happiness in the years to come; and, be it further 1-64 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-1 prepared for Judge Stavinoha as an expression of high regard by the 2-2 Texas House of Representatives and Senate. 2-3 * * * * *