1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 196 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is proud to 1-4 recognize Carlos E. Lerma, who is retiring after 12 years of loyal 1-5 service as the City Manager of his hometown, Kingsville, Texas; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Born and reared in the City of Kingsville, he 1-7 graduated from Henrietta M. King High School, where he distinguished 1-8 himself as a student and as an outstanding football and basketball 1-9 player; and 1-10 WHEREAS, A graduate of Texas Tech University with a major in 1-11 civil engineering, Carlos Lerma holds a master's degree in public 1-12 administration from Auburn University; he retired with the rank of 1-13 Lieutenant Colonel from the United States Air Force and received 1-14 numerous honors for his exceptional service, including the 1-15 Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal with Two 1-16 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Air Medal with 14 Oak Leaf Clusters; and 1-17 WHEREAS, A former personnel director and private pilot for 1-18 Kettle Pancake House, Incorporated, Mr. Lerma served as the Public 1-19 Works Director for Kingsville for three years before becoming the 1-20 City Manager in May of 1987; and 1-21 WHEREAS, As City Manager, Mr. Lerma is well known for his 1-22 expertise in coordinating the goals and activities of the various 1-23 city departments and for his courage and remarkable tenacity in 1-24 facing the stress and complexities that came with his position; 2-1 and 2-2 WHEREAS, Devoted to the Kingsville community and to his work, 2-3 Mr. Lerma used his superior administrative and organizational 2-4 skills to manage effectively the far-reaching responsibilities of 2-5 a city manager's position; and 2-6 WHEREAS, Under his leadership, downtown Kingsville, which 2-7 formerly consisted of abandoned buildings, was revitalized and 2-8 was transformed from a 35 percent occupancy rate to a 90 percent 2-9 occupancy rate during his tenure; and 2-10 WHEREAS, Other accomplishments include improving Kingsville's 2-11 streets, keeping the landfill in operation, maintaining a water 2-12 supply independent from Corpus Christi, building overpasses above 2-13 United States Highway 77, and he was recognized by the Texas 2-14 Department of Transportation in June of 1997 by being selected to 2-15 receive the Road Hand Award for his promotion of highway projects; 2-16 and 2-17 WHEREAS, Throughout his successful career, Mr. Lerma 2-18 has enjoyed the support and companionship of his wife, 2-19 Dr. Sandra Lanier-Lerma, a career educator, and has continued to 2-20 pursue his many interests and hobbies, including hunting, deep-sea 2-21 fishing, and flying his plane; and 2-22 WHEREAS, The Kingsville community has greatly benefitted 2-23 from the dedication, hard work, and perseverance of this talented 2-24 City Manager; now, therefore, be it 2-25 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-26 76th Legislature, hereby commend Carlos Lerma for his years of able 3-1 and effective leadership to his hometown, the City of Kingsville, 3-2 and extend to him best wishes in his retirement years; and, be it 3-3 further 3-4 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for him 3-5 as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. 3-6 Truan 3-7 Armbrister Gallegos Nixon 3-8 Barrientos Harris Ogden 3-9 Bernsen Haywood Ratliff 3-10 Bivins Jackson Shapiro 3-11 Brown Lindsay Shapleigh 3-12 Cain Lucio Sibley 3-13 Carona Luna Wentworth 3-14 Duncan Madla West 3-15 Ellis Moncrief Whitmire 3-16 Fraser Nelson Zaffirini 3-17 Perry, President of the Senate 3-18 ______________________________________ 3-19 President of the Senate 3-20 I hereby certify that the above 3-21 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-22 on February 11, 1999. 3-23 ______________________________________ 3-24 Secretary of the Senate 3-25 ______________________________________ 3-26 Dean of the Senate