By:  Ratliff                                          S.C.R. No. 46

                            SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Texas takes great

 1-2     pride in recognizing the Honorable George Herbert Walker Bush, an

 1-3     outstanding Texan and former President of the United States; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, An exceptionally distinguished statesman and revered

 1-5     politician, George Bush is one of our state's most beloved leaders;

 1-6     a highly respected man of vision and determination, President Bush

 1-7     has served our state and nation with an eloquent voice and

 1-8     dedication; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Yale University,

1-10     President Bush was a decorated naval pilot, who flew torpedo

1-11     bombers during World War II; after moving to Texas, he worked in

1-12     the oil business before embarking on a career in public service;

1-13     and

1-14           WHEREAS, George Bush's exceptional career in politics began

1-15     in 1963 with his election as chairman of the Harris County

1-16     Republican Party; he served two terms in the United States House of

1-17     Representatives, was the United States Ambassador to the United

1-18     Nations, and in 1976, became the Director of the Central

1-19     Intelligence Agency; he served as Vice President under Ronald

1-20     Reagan from 1981 to 1989; and

1-21           WHEREAS, George Bush was elected 41st President of the United

1-22     States on November 8, 1988, and served from 1989 to 1993; during

1-23     his tenure, he successfully fought for, and signed into law, such

 2-1     landmark civil rights and environmental legislation as the

 2-2     Americans with Disabilities Act and the Clean Air Act; and

 2-3           WHEREAS, President Bush was only the second American

 2-4     President to serve a full term without party control in either

 2-5     chamber of Congress and was the first Vice President to ascend

 2-6     directly to the presidency since Martin van Buren; while he was

 2-7     President, the Berlin Wall fell and Germany reunified, the Soviet

 2-8     Union was replaced with a democratic Russia, and an international

 2-9     coalition force liberated Kuwait from Iraq; and

2-10           WHEREAS, A highly resourceful and gifted individual,

2-11     President Bush has continued to serve his state and nation with

2-12     diligence since leaving office; he is chairman of the Eisenhower

2-13     Exchange Fellowship, honorary chairman of the Points of Light

2-14     Foundation, and a member of the Board of Visitors at The University

2-15     of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston; he focuses much of

2-16     his time and energy on the completion of the George Bush

2-17     Presidential Library at Texas A&M University; and

2-18           WHEREAS, Today, President Bush's numerous philanthropic

2-19     endeavors illustrate his patriotism, his generosity, and his deeply

2-20     rooted concern for his fellowman; he and his wife, Barbara, have

2-21     helped to support more than 100 charitable organizations in their

2-22     community and around the country, from fighting drug abuse to

2-23     promoting literacy; and

2-24           WHEREAS, President Bush has received a number of honorary

2-25     degrees since his retirement from public service and has been

 3-1     honored by countries around the globe, such as Kuwait, the United

 3-2     Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, Nicaragua, Poland, and

 3-3     Saudi Arabia; and

 3-4           WHEREAS, A devoted family man of high moral principles,

 3-5     George Bush is beloved and respected by citizens across our state

 3-6     and nation; President and Mrs. Bush have been married 51 years and

 3-7     have been blessed with five children, George W., Jeb, Neil, Marvin,

 3-8     and Doro, and 14 grandchildren; and

 3-9           WHEREAS, Still a giant in the State of Texas and a nationally

3-10     and internationally acclaimed figure, George Bush is a mentor and

3-11     friend to some of the most prominent individuals in government

3-12     today, and our state and country continue to benefit immeasurably

3-13     from his wisdom, strength, and leadership; now, therefore, be it

3-14           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

3-15     hereby pay tribute to President George Bush on his exceptional

3-16     public service and express its deep admiration of him by

3-17     authorizing the commission of a bust of this outstanding Texan and

3-18     41st President of the United States and have it placed in the Seal

3-19     Court of the Capitol Extension along with other great Texas heroes;

3-20     and, be it further

3-21           RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for

3-22     President Bush as an expression of highest esteem from the Texas

3-23     Senate.