1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 97 1-2 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to 1-3 recognize the Reverend Benjamin H. Skyles on the momentous occasion 1-4 of his retirement from active ministry on January 31, 1999; and 1-5 WHEREAS, The rector of Saint Peter's Episcopal Church for 1-6 34 years, Father Skyles has been responsible for many significant 1-7 and helpful programs in Pasadena; and 1-8 WHEREAS, Dedicated to his community, Father Skyles chaired 1-9 the Southeast Harris County Clinic Task Force in 1976 and 1977 which 1-10 established the Strawberry Clinic and vital health services in the 1-11 area; and 1-12 WHEREAS, In addition to the day school at Saint Peter's, there 1-13 has been an Afterschool Program which has furnished a safe place 1-14 for latchkey children for 25 years; Father Skyles and Saint Peter's 1-15 have offered training and skills to those limited by poverty through 1-16 year-round GED classes, Alcoholics Anonymous, the Food Pantry, and 1-17 English as a Second Language classes; and 1-18 WHEREAS, Saint Peter's Courts provide low-cost housing for 1-19 deserving senior citizens, and there is Saint Peter's Thrift Shop 1-20 which serves as a much-needed resource; and 1-21 WHEREAS, With a desire to extend assistance to the Hispanic 1-22 community, Father Skyles began to learn Spanish in 1984; he leads 1-23 four services, including one in Spanish, every Sunday; and 1-24 WHEREAS, Wishing to provide more services, he founded the 2-1 North Pasadena Community Outreach Organization, in association with 2-2 the Episcopal Health Charities, and with help from the parishioners 2-3 of Saint Peter's; they built a center that houses the afterschool 2-4 programs, a free community clinic, and an up-to-date computer 2-5 clubhouse; this Community Outreach Center opened in January, 1999, 2-6 and is one of the first collaborations between the church, school, 2-7 and community; and 2-8 WHEREAS, Named Pasadena's Citizen of the Year in 1973, he was 2-9 the recipient of the Religious Service Award for the Greater Houston 2-10 Area of the National Conference of Christians and Jews in 1982; 2-11 Father Skyles was appointed Dean of the East Harris Convocation of 2-12 the Episcopal Diocese of Texas in 1993; and 2-13 WHEREAS, The citizens of the Pasadena area are grateful for 2-14 all the outstanding accomplishments of Reverend Benjamin H. Skyles 2-15 and wish to honor him for his generous donations of his time, 2-16 efforts, and care; now, therefore, be it 2-17 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-18 76th Legislature, hereby congratulate the Reverend Benjamin H. Skyles 2-19 on his well-deserved retirement; and, be it further 2-20 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for him as 2-21 an expression of the highest regard and esteem of the Texas Senate. 2-22 Jackson 2-23 ______________________________________ 2-24 President of the Senate 2-25 I hereby certify that the above 2-26 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 2-27 on January 27, 1999. 2-28 ______________________________________ 2-29 Secretary of the Senate 2-30 ______________________________________ 3-1 Member, Texas Senate