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