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.

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