By:  West                                              S.R. No. 382

 1-1     By:  West                                              S.R. No. 382

 1-2                              SENATE RESOLUTION

 1-3           WHEREAS, The Texas Department of Public Safety and the

 1-4     State of Texas miss the wisdom and expertise of Chief of Staff

 1-5     Services Adolph Thomas, who recently retired after 27 years of

 1-6     superb service; and

 1-7           WHEREAS, Born in Seguin, Adolph was the eighth child in

 1-8     a family of 10; he learned lessons in patience, tenacity, and

 1-9     meticulous attention to detail from his mother; and

1-10           WHEREAS, Having grown up with a desire to be a lawman, he

1-11     tried to join the San Antonio Police Department in 1961 and was

1-12     turned down; he then obtained a job as a part-time jail guard

1-13     in the sheriff's department, applied to the Texas Department

1-14     of Public Safety in 1968, and was accepted; and

1-15           WHEREAS, The first African American to be a cadet, Officer

1-16     Thomas set many records while with the Texas Department of Public

1-17     Safety; he was finally a lawman and remembers greatly enjoying

1-18     those first years as patrol officer; and

1-19           WHEREAS, Promoted to Narcotics Agent I in May, 1972, he

1-20     was the first African American officer to work in that department;

1-21     he discovered that the use of drugs was much more widespread

1-22     than he had anticipated; and

1-23           WHEREAS, Promoted to supervisor in 1974, he gained a

 2-1     reputation for being a concerned boss who was quite aware that

 2-2     narcotics work placed a strain on any marriage; he often checked

 2-3     with the families of officers to discover how things were going;

 2-4     and

 2-5           WHEREAS, Promoted in 1988 to Captain in the Narcotics

 2-6     Service, Officer Thomas was named commander of the Department

 2-7     of Public Safety Training Academy in 1991; and

 2-8           WHEREAS, Two years later, he was made chief of staff

 2-9     services, one of the most responsible positions in the large

2-10     department; over the years, he established a reputation as an

2-11     expert in constitutional law for police officers; and

2-12           WHEREAS, A well-known and popular peace officer, he has

2-13     been one of those courageous men who risk their lives every day

2-14     to protect the homes, neighborhoods, and property of our citizens;

2-15     and

2-16           WHEREAS, A man of unquestioned ability and integrity,

2-17     this respected officer set a high standard of professionalism,

2-18     inspiring others by his loyalty, dependability, and exemplary

2-19     conduct; and

2-20           WHEREAS, Officer Thomas's splendid record in the line of

2-21     duty has resulted in the solving of many crimes in the cities

2-22     and towns of Texas; now, therefore, be it

2-23           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

2-24     75th Legislature, hereby congratulate Officer Adolph Thomas on

2-25     his retirement and wish him happiness in the years ahead; and,

 3-1     be it further

 3-2           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be

 3-3     prepared for this outstanding officer as an expression of the

 3-4     highest regard of the Texas Senate.

 3-5                                  ______________________________________

 3-6                                          President of the Senate

 3-7                                       I hereby certify that the above

 3-8                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

 3-9                                  on April 3, 1997.

3-10                                  ______________________________________

3-11                                          Secretary of the Senate

3-12                                  ______________________________________

3-13                                           Member, Texas Senate