By Tillery                                             H.R. No. 757

         75R13020 JHS-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, For more than 30 years, Dixie Parris has dedicated

 1-2     herself to the education of students in the Lone Star State, and

 1-3     her commitment to excellence in this pursuit has earned her the

 1-4     respect and admiration of her peers; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, Ms. Parris received her undergraduate and graduate

 1-6     degrees from East Texas State University and has served as the

 1-7     Mesquite Independent School District's (MISD) administrative

 1-8     officer for communications since 1989; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, A one-time elementary school teacher with MISD, she

1-10     became the public information director for Denison ISD in 1980, and

1-11     from 1983 to 1989, Ms. Parris was employed in a similar capacity by

1-12     Galena Park ISD as public information and communications director;

1-13     and

1-14           WHEREAS, This dedicated woman is active in many community

1-15     organizations, including the North Channel Area Chamber of Commerce

1-16     (NCACC) and the Woodforest Civic Association, both of which she

1-17     serves as a member of the board of directors; she is also a member

1-18     of the NCACC Education Committee and serves on the board of

1-19     directors of the Corsicana Living Arts Council; and

1-20           WHEREAS, Her list of awards is long and varied and includes a

1-21     1989 Award of Honor from the National School Public Relations

1-22     Association (NSPRA) as well as the 1995 Texas School Public

1-23     Relations Association's (TSPRA) Professional Achievement Award; in

1-24     1994, the TSPRA 1983 "Rookie of the Year" took home four of Texas'

 2-1     seven NSPRA Awards of Excellence for her outstanding service in her

 2-2     district; and

 2-3           WHEREAS, Among her many accomplishments are the construction

 2-4     of a 514-foot communications tower for the district and shepherding

 2-5     the passage of two multimillion-dollar bond elections in 1989 and

 2-6     1993; and

 2-7           WHEREAS, Whether in the classroom, the boardroom, or behind

 2-8     the scenes in her office, Ms. Parris has demonstrated her

 2-9     dedication to promoting education in Texas, and her longtime

2-10     service is certainly deserving of special legislative recognition;

2-11     now, therefore, be it

2-12           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-13     Legislature hereby commend Dixie Parris for her dedication as an

2-14     educator and administrator and extend to her sincere best wishes

2-15     for continued success and happiness in the years to come; and, be

2-16     it further

2-17           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-18     prepared for Ms. Parris as an expression of high regard by the

2-19     Texas House of Representatives.