By Brown of Kaufman                                    H.R. No. 276
         76R6538 WMS-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Honorable Bill Thomas and Mitzi Thomas have been
 1-2     selected as recipients of Greenville's Worthy Citizens of the Year
 1-3     Award for 1998 and this prestigious honor is indeed well deserved;
 1-4     and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Presented each year since 1947 by the Greenville
 1-6     Chamber of Commerce, the Greenville Worthy Citizens of the Year
 1-7     Award is bestowed in recognition of those whose contributions have
 1-8     made Greenville a better place in which to live, work, and raise a
 1-9     family; the 1998 award marks only the second time that this
1-10     accolade has been given to a married couple; and
1-11           WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas moved to Greenville in 1977 from
1-12     Northern Virginia, and over the course of the past two decades they
1-13     have consistently devoted their energy to enhancing the quality of
1-14     life in the city they have grown to love; and
1-15           WHEREAS, An officer for 26 years in the United States Army,
1-16     manager and acting director for international requirements for
1-17     E-Systems, and then insurance representative, Mr. Thomas served the
1-18     State of Texas with distinction for two terms as a member of the
1-19     house of representatives; in addition, he has held the position of
1-20     adjunct professor of political science at Texas A&M
1-21     University-Commerce and was an instructor in state and local
1-22     government at the Greenville Technical Center; and
1-23           WHEREAS, Mrs. Thomas has been a driving force behind many
1-24     beneficial projects of Clean Greenville, and she has donated
 2-1     considerable time to the Greenville Symphony Series Board of
 2-2     Directors; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, Among the many boards and organizations that have
 2-4     benefitted from their tireless efforts are the Associated
 2-5     Republicans of Texas, Drug Free Greenville, the Greenville Chamber
 2-6     of Commerce, Greenville Electric Utility System, Greenville Rotary
 2-7     Club, Hunt County Appraisal Review Board, the Hunt County Boys and
 2-8     Girls Club, and others too numerous to mention; they are also
 2-9     active members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church; and
2-10           WHEREAS, The couple's many accomplishments are a source of
2-11     tremendous pride to their children Terri Connoly, Debb Thomas,
2-12     Suzie DiMauro, and Vicki McCool, as well as their 11 grandchildren;
2-13     and
2-14           WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas exemplify the qualities of
2-15     community involvement and civic pride and their many achievements
2-16     in behalf of their fellow citizens in Greenville are truly worthy
2-17     of special recognition at this time; now, therefore, be it
2-18           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-19     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the Honorable Bill Thomas and
2-20     Mitzi Thomas on being named Greenville's Worthy Citizens of the
2-21     Year for 1998 and extend to them sincere best wishes for continued
2-22     success in the future; and, be it further
2-23           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-24     prepared for Mr. and Mrs. Thomas as an expression of high regard by
2-25     the Texas House of Representatives.