1-1 By: Ratliff S.C.R. No. 46 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed March 11, 1997; March 13, 1997, read 1-3 first time and referred to Committee on Administration; 1-4 April 9, 1997, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7, 1-5 Nays 0; April 9, 1997, sent to printer.) 1-6 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-7 WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Texas takes great 1-8 pride in recognizing the Honorable George Herbert Walker Bush, an 1-9 outstanding Texan and former President of the United States; and 1-10 WHEREAS, An exceptionally distinguished statesman and revered 1-11 politician, George Bush is one of our state's most beloved leaders; 1-12 a highly respected man of vision and determination, President Bush 1-13 has served our state and nation with an eloquent voice and 1-14 dedication; and 1-15 WHEREAS, A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Yale University, 1-16 President Bush was a decorated naval pilot, who flew torpedo 1-17 bombers during World War II; after moving to Texas, he worked in 1-18 the oil business before embarking on a career in public service; 1-19 and 1-20 WHEREAS, George Bush's exceptional career in politics began 1-21 in 1963 with his election as chairman of the Harris County 1-22 Republican Party; he served two terms in the United States House of 1-23 Representatives, was the United States Ambassador to the United 1-24 Nations, and in 1976, became the Director of the Central 1-25 Intelligence Agency; he served as Vice President under Ronald 1-26 Reagan from 1981 to 1989; and 1-27 WHEREAS, George Bush was elected 41st President of the United 1-28 States on November 8, 1988, and served from 1989 to 1993; during 1-29 his tenure, he successfully fought for, and signed into law, such 1-30 landmark civil rights and environmental legislation as the 1-31 Americans with Disabilities Act and the Clean Air Act; and 1-32 WHEREAS, President Bush was only the second American 1-33 President to serve a full term without party control in either 1-34 chamber of Congress and was the first Vice President to ascend 1-35 directly to the presidency since Martin van Buren; while he was 1-36 President, the Berlin Wall fell and Germany reunified, the Soviet 1-37 Union was replaced with a democratic Russia, and an international 1-38 coalition force liberated Kuwait from Iraq; and 1-39 WHEREAS, A highly resourceful and gifted individual, 1-40 President Bush has continued to serve his state and nation with 1-41 diligence since leaving office; he is chairman of the Eisenhower 1-42 Exchange Fellowship, honorary chairman of the Points of Light 1-43 Foundation, and a member of the Board of Visitors at The University 1-44 of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston; he focuses much of 1-45 his time and energy on the completion of the George Bush 1-46 Presidential Library at Texas A&M University; and 1-47 WHEREAS, Today, President Bush's numerous philanthropic 1-48 endeavors illustrate his patriotism, his generosity, and his deeply 1-49 rooted concern for his fellowman; he and his wife, Barbara, have 1-50 helped to support more than 100 charitable organizations in their 1-51 community and around the country, from fighting drug abuse to 1-52 promoting literacy; and 1-53 WHEREAS, President Bush has received a number of honorary 1-54 degrees since his retirement from public service and has been 1-55 honored by countries around the globe, such as Kuwait, the United 1-56 Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, Nicaragua, Poland, and 1-57 Saudi Arabia; and 1-58 WHEREAS, A devoted family man of high moral principles, 1-59 George Bush is beloved and respected by citizens across our state 1-60 and nation; President and Mrs. Bush have been married 51 years and 1-61 have been blessed with five children, George W., Jeb, Neil, Marvin, 1-62 and Doro, and 14 grandchildren; and 1-63 WHEREAS, Still a giant in the State of Texas and a nationally 1-64 and internationally acclaimed figure, George Bush is a mentor and 2-1 friend to some of the most prominent individuals in government 2-2 today, and our state and country continue to benefit immeasurably 2-3 from his wisdom, strength, and leadership; now, therefore, be it 2-4 RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-5 hereby pay tribute to President George Bush on his exceptional 2-6 public service and express its deep admiration of him by 2-7 authorizing the commission of a bust of this outstanding Texan and 2-8 41st President of the United States and have it placed in the Seal 2-9 Court of the Capitol Extension along with other great Texas heroes; 2-10 and, be it further 2-11 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for 2-12 President Bush as an expression of highest esteem from the Texas 2-13 Senate. 2-14 * * * * *