1-1                                     1
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 571
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the
 1-4     Texas Department of Transportation in bidding farewell to
 1-5     Tom Ellis, who is resigning from his position as District
 1-6     Engineer of the Paris District, effective April 9, 1999; a
 1-7     fine person and a consummate professional, Tom will be missed
 1-8     by his colleagues at the Texas Department of Transportation;
 1-9     and
1-10           WHEREAS, In 1983, Tom earned his bachelor's degree in civil
1-11     engineering from Texas A&M University; there, he worked for the
1-12     Texas Transportation Institute as a research assistant; he
1-13     interned with the Del Rio District during his undergraduate summers;
1-14     and
1-15           WHEREAS, Tom joined the Texas Department of Transportation's
1-16     San Antonio District as a full-time employee in 1984; stationed
1-17     first in the Kerrville area, he worked his way up from engineering
1-18     assistant to assistant area engineer; after exhibiting much skill
1-19     in both these positions, Tom was transferred to the Special Design
1-20     Section in the same district; in this capacity, he served as design
1-21     engineer for the Interstate 10/I-410 five-level interchange and
1-22     downtown "Y" projects in San Antonio; his successful tenure in
1-23     San Antonio earned him the position of district design engineer
1-24     of Brownwood; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, Tom's ensuing position, Director of Transportation
 2-2     Planning and Development, was in the newly created Laredo District;
 2-3     he helped coordinate the incorporation of nine counties from the
 2-4     Pharr, San Antonio, and San Angelo districts into the new district
 2-5     and was responsible for all its design, planning, and right-of-way
 2-6     functions; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, Tom's final position with the Texas Department of
 2-8     Transportation was as Paris District Engineer; he served in
 2-9     this capacity with the same exemplary performance and dedicated
2-10     service demonstrated in his prior work with the Texas Department
2-11     of Transportation; and
2-12           WHEREAS, Tom balances professional duties with responsibilities
2-13     to his loving family; he and his wife, Dorothy, have three
2-14     children, Southern, Hunter, and Macy, and he has been a Little
2-15     League coach since 1993; a man of sound moral principle, Tom is
2-16     a member of the First Baptist Church of Paris; and
2-17           WHEREAS, A native Texan, originally from Eagle Pass, Tom has
2-18     dedicated his professional career to serving this great state;
2-19     his contributions to designing, building, and maintaining the Texas
2-20     infrastructure have benefitted countless Texans; now, therefore,
2-21     be it
2-22           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-23     76th Legislature, hereby commend its loyal public servant,
2-24     Tom Ellis, on his 16 years of service; indeed, Tom's skillful
2-25     professionalism has served Texas well; the Senate also wishes
2-26     him success in his private-sector endeavors; and, be it further
 3-1           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as an
 3-2     expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.
 3-3                                                           Cain, Bernsen
 3-4                                  ______________________________________
 3-5                                          President of the Senate
 3-6                                       I hereby certify that the above
 3-7                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
 3-8                                  on April 7, 1999.
 3-9                                  ______________________________________
3-10                                          Secretary of the Senate
3-11                                  ______________________________________
3-12                                           Member, Texas Senate
3-13                                  ______________________________________
3-14                                           Member, Texas Senate