R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The Honorable Gerald L. Coates, Grand Exalted Ruler
1-2 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and his wife, Lea,
1-3 will visit the Lone Star State on March 13-16, 1997, and the Texas
1-4 House of Representatives is proud to welcome this fine couple; and
1-5 WHEREAS, Since the establishment of the Benevolent and
1-6 Protective Order of Elks in February 1868, the members of this
1-7 distinguished group have provided aid and assistance to millions
1-8 of Americans; from the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 to the
1-9 devastating Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, the Elks organization
1-10 has rendered much-needed relief in a variety of dire circumstances;
1-11 and
1-12 WHEREAS, A 1951 graduate of Wake Forest University,
1-13 Mr. Coates joined Elks Lodge No. 602 in Greensboro, North Carolina,
1-14 in June 1970, and he advanced through the chairs of his lodge and
1-15 through the national organization to finally be elected to lead all
1-16 Elks in America this year as their Grand Exalted Ruler; and
1-17 WHEREAS, During their tour of Texas, Mr. and Mrs. Coates will
1-18 attend the Texas Elks State Association's officer training
1-19 conference in Seguin and visit the Texas Elks Children's Services
1-20 diagnostic center, the centerpiece of the organization's many
1-21 humanitarian efforts in Texas; the center was created in response
1-22 to the polio epidemic of the mid-1900s and today serves as one of
1-23 the only facilities in Texas that specializes in multidisability
1-24 diagnosis; and
2-1 WHEREAS, The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is
2-2 committed to setting a shining example of patriotism for all
2-3 Americans and to supporting the many disabled veterans of our
2-4 country's foreign wars; last year alone, the members of this
2-5 magnanimous organization contributed 5.6 million hours of volunteer
2-6 service to countless individuals and donated $143 million to a
2-7 variety of charitable causes; and
2-8 WHEREAS, For more than 20 years, Gerald L. Coates has
2-9 dedicated himself to providing thoughtful and determined leadership
2-10 to the 1.3 million members of the Benevolent and Protective Order
2-11 of Elks, and his tremendous efforts in behalf of his fellow Elks
2-12 are indeed deserving of special legislative recognition; now,
2-13 therefore, be it
2-14 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas
2-15 Legislature hereby welcome the Honorable Gerald L. Coates and his
2-16 wife, Lea, to Texas and commend this esteemed man for his many good
2-17 works as Grand Exalted Ruler of the Benevolent and Protective Order
2-18 of Elks; and, be it further
2-19 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-20 prepared for Mr. Coates as an expression of high regard by the
2-21 Texas House of Representatives.
Carter
Laney Gutierrez Oliveira
Alexander Haggerty Olivo
Allen Hamric Palmer
Alvarado Hartnett Patterson
Averitt Hawley Pickett
Bailey Heflin Pitts
Berlanga Hernandez Place
Bonnen Hightower Price
Bosse Hilbert Puente
Brimer Hilderbran Rabuck
Burnam Hill Ramsay
Carter Hinojosa Rangel
Chavez Hirschi Raymond
Chisum Hochberg Reyna of Bexar
Christian Hodge Reyna of Dallas
Clark Holzheauser Rhodes
Coleman Horn Rodriguez
Cook Howard Roman
Corte Hunter Sadler
Counts Hupp Seaman
Crabb Isett Serna
Craddick Jackson Shields
Cuellar Janek Siebert
Culberson Jones of Lubbock Smith
Danburg Jones of Dallas Smithee
Davila Junell Solis
Davis Kamel Solomons
Delisi Keel Staples
Denny Keffer Stiles
Driver King Swinford
Dukes Krusee Talton
Dunnam Kubiak Telford
Dutton Kuempel Thompson
Edwards Lewis of Tarrant Tillery
Ehrhardt Lewis of Orange Torres
Eiland Longoria Turner of Coleman
Elkins Luna Turner of Harris
Farrar McCall Uher
Finnell McClendon Van de Putte
Flores McReynolds Walker
Gallego Madden West
Galloway Marchant Williams
Garcia Maxey Williamson
Giddings Merritt Wilson
Glaze Moffat Wise
Goodman Moreno Wohlgemuth
Goolsby Mowery Wolens
Gray Naishtat Woolley
Greenberg Nixon Yarbrough
Grusendorf Oakley Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 316 was adopted by the House on March
10, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House