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