R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor 1-2 Mary Ethyl Praetz on her exceptional contributions to the State of 1-3 Texas as a member of the Silver-Haired Legislature; and 1-4 WHEREAS, She began her highly productive eight-year tenure 1-5 with the Silver-Haired Legislature in 1986 and during her time with 1-6 that esteemed organization she promoted a number of significant 1-7 measures, including one which established the TAPS Public 1-8 Transportation System in Grayson County; she also attended the 1-9 first Silver-Haired Congress in Washington, D.C., in January 1997; 1-10 and 1-11 WHEREAS, In addition to her work with the Silver-Haired 1-12 Legislature, this remarkable individual has served as a member of 1-13 the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, the Iris 1-14 Society, and the Texoma Retired Auxiliary Council and she also sits 1-15 on the advisory council for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program of 1-16 the Texoma Council of Governments; and 1-17 WHEREAS, Indicative of her selfless commitment to others is 1-18 her adoption of three orphans from Ireland, whom she raised as a 1-19 single parent; and 1-20 WHEREAS, For a democratic state to effectively serve the 1-21 needs of its populace, all of its citizenry must be both informed 1-22 and involved; through her work with the Silver-Haired Legislature, 1-23 Mary Ethyl Praetz has exhibited an unyielding commitment to active 1-24 participation in the governmental process and her inspirational 2-1 achievements are indeed worthy of special legislative recognition 2-2 at this time; now, therefore, be it 2-3 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas 2-4 Legislature hereby commend Mary Ethyl Praetz for her many 2-5 noteworthy contributions to her fellow Texans as a member of the 2-6 Silver-Haired Legislature and extend to her sincere best wishes for 2-7 continued happiness in the future; and, be it further 2-8 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-9 prepared for Mary Ethyl Praetz as an expression of high regard by 2-10 the Texas House of Representatives. Clark _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 927 was adopted by the House on May 22, 1997, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House