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