1-1 By: Brown, Armbrister S.C.R. No. 17 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed January 27, 1999; February 4, 1999, 1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources; 1-4 March 25, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6, 1-5 Nays 0; March 25, 1999, sent to printer.) 1-6 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-7 WHEREAS, Thomas L. Heffernan has long been one of the Parks 1-8 and Wildlife Department's most outstanding employees, and it is 1-9 appropriate that we honor this distinguished gentleman for his four 1-10 decades of dedicated service at this time; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Mr. Heffernan began his career with the department 1-12 in 1958 as a seasonal technician after graduating from Sam Houston 1-13 State University with a bachelor's degree in zoology; by 1962 he 1-14 had advanced to the position of program leader and was an integral 1-15 contributor to the Aransas Bay Area Oyster Program; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Beginning in 1975, Mr. Heffernan moved on to 1-17 administrative positions, serving as regional director for Coastal 1-18 Fisheries Region V until 1983 and as director of field operations 1-19 for Coastal Fisheries until 1992; since then he has served with the 1-20 utmost distinction as commercial liaison for the Coastal Fisheries 1-21 Division; and 1-22 WHEREAS, In 1998, this hardworking gentleman received the 1-23 Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission's Charles H. Lyles Award, a 1-24 fitting tribute to a man whose career has been characterized by 1-25 integrity and dedication; and 1-26 WHEREAS, Throughout his remarkable tenure, Mr. Heffernan's 1-27 skills in problem solving and public relations and his ability to 1-28 effectively handle sensitive economic and sociological issues have 1-29 proven to be invaluable assets to the Parks and Wildlife 1-30 Department, and his legacy of excellence will long be remembered; 1-31 now, therefore, be it 1-32 RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 1-33 hereby honor Thomas L. Heffernan on his 40 years of continuous 1-34 service to the Parks and Wildlife Department and extend to him 1-35 sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness in the 1-36 years to come; and, be it further 1-37 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 1-38 prepared for Mr. Heffernan as an expression of high regard by the 1-39 Texas House of Representatives and Senate. 1-40 * * * * *