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