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