By Lewis of Orange H.R. No. 79 75R4984 JHS-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Port Arthur Quota Club has named the Honorable 1-2 Frances King Monk as its 1996 Woman of the Year, and she will 1-3 receive this award at a banquet being held in her honor on February 1-4 20, 1997; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Mrs. Monk currently serves her fellow citizens as 1-6 mayor of Port Neches and president of the Southeast Texas Regional 1-7 Planning Commission; by winning the 1996 mayoral race, she set an 1-8 important precedent, becoming the first woman to attain that highly 1-9 visible office; and 1-10 WHEREAS, Following a distinguished 32-year career as an 1-11 educator with the Port Neches-Groves Independent School District, 1-12 this noteworthy woman initially caught the public's eye when she 1-13 broke through the city council's gender barrier; in recognition of 1-14 her dedication and commitment to her community, Mrs. Monk was 1-15 reelected four times, serving on this governing body for a total of 1-16 15 years; and 1-17 WHEREAS, A graduate of Beaumont's South Park High School, 1-18 Mrs. Monk earned her bachelor's degree from North Texas State 1-19 University, and shortly thereafter she worked as a linguist with 1-20 the Department of Defense in Washington, D.C.; as a means of 1-21 personal edification, she has done extensive graduate work at Lamar 1-22 University, North Texas State University, and Sam Houston State 1-23 University; and 1-24 WHEREAS, Mrs. Monk is actively involved with the First United 2-1 Methodist Church of Port Neches, where she teaches a Sunday school 2-2 class targeted to older women and serves as the church librarian; 2-3 she is also a past chairman of the administrative board and is a 2-4 current member of both the finance and long-range planning 2-5 committees; and 2-6 WHEREAS, This esteemed woman has devoted a tremendous amount 2-7 of time to several professional organizations, including the Texas 2-8 Classroom Teachers Association and the Texas Beta Alpha Chapter of 2-9 Alpha Delta Kappa, and her many activities earned her mention in 2-10 the 1983 edition of Who's Who Among Women of the Southwest; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Throughout her exceptional career, Mrs. Monk has 2-12 remained a devoted mother to her four children, Steven Paul Monk, 2-13 Michael Bruce Monk, Robert King Monk, and Debra M. Hebert, and she 2-14 takes great pride in the accomplishments of her nine grandchildren; 2-15 her lifetime of public service is an inspiration to all who know 2-16 this remarkable woman, and it is indeed a privilege to join in 2-17 honoring her on the occasion of her latest achievement; now, 2-18 therefore, be it 2-19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas 2-20 Legislature hereby congratulate the Honorable Frances King Monk on 2-21 being named the 1996 Woman of the Year by the Port Arthur Quota 2-22 Club and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success 2-23 and happiness in the years to come; and, be it further 2-24 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-25 prepared for Mrs. Monk as an expression of high regard by the Texas 2-26 House of Representatives.