By Lewis of Orange H.R. No. 849 75R14115 SAJ-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Richard Drake has retired as adult probation chief 1-2 of the First Judicial District Supervision and Correction 1-3 Department, drawing to a close a distinguished career in service to 1-4 the people of East Texas that has spanned more than 23 years; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Mr. Drake was graduated from Sam Houston State 1-6 University in 1964 and during the earliest years of his career he 1-7 worked with the Texas Department of Corrections both as a field 1-8 lieutenant and as a staff member in the education department at the 1-9 agency's Huntsville and Sugarland facilities; and 1-10 WHEREAS, He moved to Jasper County in 1973 to become one of 1-11 the first probation officers in the First Judicial District 1-12 Supervision and Correction Department; highly regarded for his 1-13 expertise, professionalism, and dedication, he was named chief of 1-14 the Adult Probation Department three years later, in which capacity 1-15 he has proudly served the people of Jasper, Newton, San Augustine, 1-16 and Sabine counties for more than two decades; and 1-17 WHEREAS, He has maintained an abiding commitment to his 1-18 community through his involvement with the First United Methodist 1-19 Church of Jasper and the Newton County Fair Association, which 1-20 honored him for his dedication in 1987, and he was also feted as 1-21 Newcomer of the Year by the Newton Chamber of Commerce in 1972; and 1-22 WHEREAS, A devoted family man, Mr. Drake is the husband of 1-23 Bobbie Drake, a teacher in the Jasper school system, and the proud 1-24 father of three children, Debbie, Steve, and Richard, and more 2-1 recently, the Drakes have welcomed the addition of three 2-2 grandchildren into their close-knit family; and 2-3 WHEREAS, For many years, Richard Drake has helped to make the 2-4 East Texas community a better place in which to live, work, and 2-5 rear a family, and it gives the members of this chamber great 2-6 pleasure to recognize him at this time; now, therefore, be it 2-7 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas 2-8 Legislature hereby congratulate Richard Drake on his outstanding 2-9 public service and extend to him warmest best wishes for a happy 2-10 and rewarding retirement; and, be it further 2-11 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-12 prepared for Mr. Drake as an expression of high regard by the Texas 2-13 House of Representatives.