1-1                                       1

 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 653

 1-3           WHEREAS, Judge Jodie E. Stavinoha has distinguished himself

 1-4     as a dedicated public servant as well as a vital and valued member

 1-5     of the community, and his many contributions to his fellow Texans

 1-6     are indeed worthy of special praise and recognition; and

 1-7           WHEREAS, A veteran of the United States Navy, Judge Stavinoha

 1-8     graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame before

 1-9     embarking on a career as a special agent with the Federal Bureau

1-10     of Investigation, and he served in that capacity for more than a

1-11     quarter of a century before leaving the bureau in 1976; and

1-12           WHEREAS, After working as an assistant vice president

1-13     at Republic Bank of Houston, Judge Stavinoha in 1979 became

1-14     county judge of Fort Bend County, and his 12 years in office

1-15     were characterized by his deep concern for the welfare of his

1-16     constituents; an eloquent advocate for those less fortunate, he

1-17     labored diligently to increase the availability of health and

1-18     social services; and

1-19           WHEREAS, Through the years, Judge Stavinoha has given freely

1-20     of his time and energy to a number of worthy causes, devoting

1-21     special attention to the needs of the mentally retarded; a founding

1-22     member and past chairman of the Riceland Regional Mental Health

1-23     Authority for more than eight years, he has also served the United

 2-1     Way of the Texas Gulf Coast, the Houston Area Red Cross, the

 2-2     Fort Bend County Health Council, and the Richmond State School's

 2-3     regional advisory board and group home advisory committee; and

 2-4           WHEREAS, His volunteer work is not limited to the field of

 2-5     health care, for he has lent his leadership abilities to such worthy

 2-6     endeavors as the Houston/Galveston Area Council of Governments, the

 2-7     Needville and Rosenberg/Richmond Area chambers of commerce, the

 2-8     American Legion, and the Knights of Columbus; he was also a founding

 2-9     member of both the Fort Bend Arts Council and the Fort Bend Economic

2-10     Development Council; and

2-11           WHEREAS, The great esteem in which Judge Stavinoha is held

2-12     by his fellow citizens is evident from the many honors he has been

2-13     accorded; the namesake of both a bridge and a "New Beginnings Home"

2-14     at Trinity Life Ranch, he has also received the Fort Bend Regional

2-15     Council Visionary Award for Alcohol and Drug Abuse and the Book of

2-16     Golden Deeds Award for Outstanding Service to the Citizens of Fort

2-17     Bend County; and

2-18           WHEREAS, Throughout his remarkable career, Judge Stavinoha

2-19     has drawn strength and inspiration from his large and loving

2-20     family, and he and his wife, Mary Jane Radcliffe Stavinoha, take

2-21     great pride and joy in their children and their children's

2-22     spouses:  Mary Therese Stavinoha Stark and James Edward Stark;

2-23     John Radcliffe Stavinoha; Theodore Joseph Stavinoha;

2-24     James Edward Stavinoha; Dr. Peter Llewellyn Stavinoha and

2-25     Dr. Kimberly Francis Crook Stavinoha; and Daniel Desmond Stavinoha;

 3-1     and their grandchildren:  Bryan Thomas Stark, Meghan Kristine Stark,

 3-2     Kathleen Elizabeth Stark, Patrick Joseph Stark, Daniel James Stark,

 3-3     and Joseph Herbert Stavinoha; and

 3-4           WHEREAS, Judge Stavinoha's commitment to the common good has

 3-5     benefited his fellow citizens to an immeasurable extent, and it is

 3-6     indeed fitting that we recognize his many accomplishments at this

 3-7     time; now, therefore, be it

 3-8           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

 3-9     75th Legislature, hereby honor Judge Jodie E. Stavinoha for his

3-10     lifetime of service and extend to him sincere best wishes for

3-11     continued success and happiness in the years to come; and, be it

3-12     further

3-13           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be

3-14     prepared for Judge Stavinoha as an expression of high regard by the

3-15     Texas Senate.

3-16                                                              Armbrister

3-17                                  ______________________________________

3-18                                          President of the Senate

3-19                                       I hereby certify that the above

3-20                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

3-21                                  on May 6, 1997.

3-22                                  ______________________________________

3-23                                          Secretary of the Senate

3-24                                  ______________________________________

3-25                                           Member, Texas Senate