By Merritt                                            H.R. No. 1322

         75R17093 JHS-D                           

                                 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.