R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The city of Kilgore's "Turn Around Kilgore" program
1-2 has become a model for the state and nation and notably illustrates
1-3 how ordinary citizens can work with local law enforcement
1-4 organizations to reclaim their neighborhoods from drug dealers and
1-5 criminals; and
1-6 WHEREAS, The leaders of this unique program have helped to
1-7 form Turn Around groups in cities throughout Texas and across the
1-8 country, and Turn Around Kilgore has truly become the spiritual
1-9 leader of Turn Around Texas; and
1-10 WHEREAS, Based on the Turn Around America program and
1-11 initiated by former mayor Bob Barbee, city manager Ron Stephens,
1-12 and public safety director Ronnie Moore, Turn Around Kilgore has
1-13 been highly successful and has enjoyed the continued support of
1-14 current mayor Bill Wilson; and
1-15 WHEREAS, Since the program's initiation, Kilgore has
1-16 experienced an 80 percent decrease in crime and street-level drug
1-17 trafficking has become almost nonexistent; the program has helped
1-18 to establish a much closer working relationship between the police
1-19 and the members of the community, and the citizens as a whole have
1-20 bridged their differences on many levels; and
1-21 WHEREAS, A number of civic organizations have honored Turn
1-22 Around Kilgore's participants for their hard work and dedication;
1-23 supporters have been named Kilgore's Citizen of the Year, First
1-24 Lady of Kilgore, and Kilgore College Homecoming Queen; and
2-1 WHEREAS, This exciting program has set new standards for
2-2 volunteerism and, to date, nearly 18,000 hours of service have been
2-3 contributed by the citizens of Kilgore; volunteers endure all types
2-4 of weather as well as the hurling of insults and epithets in their
2-5 courageous efforts to take back their streets and neighborhoods
2-6 from the criminal element; and
2-7 WHEREAS, Turn Around Kilgore demonstrates the power of a
2-8 committed citizenry fueled by local in-kind support without the
2-9 benefit of state or federal funding; these citizens truly exemplify
2-10 the "Alamo Attitude," and their determination to take their cause
2-11 to the streets of Kilgore is indeed deserving of special
2-12 legislative recognition; now, therefore, be it
2-13 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas
2-14 Legislature hereby commend the Turn Around Kilgore program on the
2-15 occasion of its second anniversary and congratulate the many
2-16 individuals who have committed themselves to taking back their
2-17 neighborhoods from drug traffickers and encourage them to continue
2-18 in their worthwhile efforts; and, be it further
2-19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas
2-20 Legislature also commend the Kilgore Fire and Police departments,
2-21 the City of Kilgore, the Gregg County Sheriff's and Constable's
2-22 offices, the Kilgore Independent School District, and Kilgore
2-23 College for their support of Turn Around Kilgore and offer special
2-24 recognition to the Kilgore News Herald for its excellent coverage
2-25 of Turn Around Kilgore.
Merritt
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. 1322 was adopted by the House on May
31, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House