R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Reverend David G. Roland of Fort Smith, Arkansas, 1-2 recently received an honorary doctorate of divinity degree from 1-3 Mid-America Nazarene College, and this auspicious honor provides a 1-4 fitting opportunity to recognize this distinguished gentleman for 1-5 his myriad accomplishments; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Raised in a Nazarene parsonage, Reverend Roland was 1-7 drawn to preaching at an early age, giving his first sermon when he 1-8 was just 16 years old and being licensed by the Dallas District at 1-9 the age of 17; and 1-10 WHEREAS, Reverend Roland earned a bachelor of arts degree 1-11 from Mid-America Nazarene College in 1973 and a master of divinity 1-12 degree from Nazarene Theological Seminary four years later; he 1-13 attended Grayson County College in 1979 and is currently working on 1-14 his doctor of ministry degree from Trinity Theological Seminary; 1-15 and 1-16 WHEREAS, In 1974 he became pastor at Drexel Church of the 1-17 Nazarene in Drexel, Missouri, a position he held for four years; 1-18 after moving to Texas in 1978 and serving as senior pastor at First 1-19 Church of the Nazarene in Sherman until 1985, he served as the 1-20 senior pastor at Carrollton Church of the Nazarene for eight years 1-21 until he was selected for his current position as district 1-22 superintendent for the North Arkansas District Church of the 1-23 Nazarene in 1993; and 1-24 WHEREAS, Reverend Roland has received a host of honors during 2-1 his life, including the Outstanding Young Men of America Award, 2-2 Phineas F. Bresee and John Wesley awards, the gold and silver Great 2-3 Commission Fellowship awards, and the SNU Pastor of the Year award; 2-4 and 2-5 WHEREAS, He has been active in a variety of posts at the 2-6 local and district levels of his church, serving his faith on 2-7 numerous boards, committees, and councils; in recent years he has 2-8 also donated his time to the Christian Action Committee, Pastor's 2-9 Insurance Committee, Ministerial Debt Task Force, and District 2-10 Superintendent Leadership Development Steering Committee, and he is 2-11 currently a member of the board of trustees at Southern Nazarene 2-12 University and Nazarene Theological Seminary; and 2-13 WHEREAS, Throughout the years, this devoted family man has 2-14 enjoyed the love and support of his wife, Cheryl, and their two 2-15 daughters, Kari and Cassie; and 2-16 WHEREAS, Reverend Roland's outstanding leadership and strong 2-17 faith have been a tremendous source of inspiration to all those 2-18 fortunate enough to know him, and it is indeed fitting to pay 2-19 tribute to him at this time; now, therefore, be it 2-20 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-21 Legislature hereby commend David G. Roland on his receipt of an 2-22 honorary doctorate of divinity degree from Mid-America Nazarene 2-23 College and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success 2-24 and happiness; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official 2-25 copy of this resolution be prepared for Reverend Roland as an 2-26 expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Marchant _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 968 was adopted by the House on May 28, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House