By Carter                                        H.R. No. 316

      75R8508 JHS-D                           

                                 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.