1-1                                     1
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 263
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pride
 1-4     in recognizing Robert D. Spencer, Dorothy Jean Tigner, and
 1-5     Eddie L. Upshaw, three outstanding citizens and distinguished
 1-6     elected officials of Nacogdoches County; and
 1-7           WHEREAS, These three individuals have earned
 1-8     exceptional admiration from their colleagues and the citizens
 1-9     of Nacogdoches County, and they are being honored for their
1-10     accomplishments by the Nacogdoches County Commissioners Court
1-11     at a ceremony that takes place February 27, 1999; and
1-12           WHEREAS, Robert Spencer was the first jailer hired in the
1-13     Nacogdoches Law Enforcement Center, and he later served as both a
1-14     jail administrator and a deputy sheriff; in January of 1995, he
1-15     took office as the first African-American Justice of the Peace for
1-16     Nacogdoches County; and
1-17           WHEREAS, Mr. Spencer is a well-known leader in his community
1-18     and has served Nacogdoches County by educating young people on such
1-19     topics as drug use and the importance of education; he has been
1-20     successful in his efforts to establish better communication between
1-21     the court system and law enforcement personnel; and
1-22           WHEREAS, Dorothy Tigner became the first woman to serve as
1-23     Justice of the Peace in Nacogdoches County after her election in
1-24     November of 1998; she formerly served as the Administrative Court
 2-1     Assistant for the 145th Judicial District Court for five years; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, An active community leader, she is a member of the
 2-3     Nacogdoches County Child Welfare Board and the Nacogdoches County
 2-4     Community Justice Council; she serves as an officer of the
 2-5     E. T. Campbell Alumni Association and the Nacogdoches
 2-6     Interdenominational Community Chorale and is a board member of
 2-7     the Footprint Foundation; and
 2-8           WHEREAS, Eddie Upshaw was elected as Constable for
 2-9     Nacogdoches County in November of 1992 and is the first
2-10     African-American individual to serve in that position; he is a
2-11     graduate of the East Texas Police Academy and spent nine years
2-12     with the Nacogdoches Police Department; prior to his election
2-13     as constable, he worked for the Nacogdoches County Sheriff's
2-14     Department; and
2-15           WHEREAS, Over the years, Mr. Upshaw has dedicated much of his
2-16     time and energy to reducing truancy in schools; he is also the
2-17     author of several newspaper articles written for the purpose of
2-18     educating the public about the civil aspect of law enforcement; and
2-19           WHEREAS, These elected officials have distinguished
2-20     themselves in their careers and they deserve recognition for their
2-21     many contributions to Nacogdoches County; now, therefore, be it
2-22           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-23     76th Legislature, hereby commend Robert Spencer, Dorothy Tigner,
2-24     and Eddie Upshaw on their hard work and dedication to the betterment
2-25     of Nacogdoches County; and, be it further
2-26           RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be prepared for them
 3-1     as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
 3-2                                                                   Nixon
 3-3                                  ______________________________________
 3-4                                          President of the Senate
 3-5                                       I hereby certify that the above
 3-6                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
 3-7                                  on February 22, 1999.
 3-8                                  ______________________________________
 3-9                                          Secretary of the Senate
3-10                                  ______________________________________
3-11                                           Member, Texas Senate