1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 786 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is proud to honor 1-4 the exemplary service of Joe Burks, who has completed a successful 1-5 term as chairman of the Texas Association of Nurserymen; and 1-6 WHEREAS, During his tenure as president, Mr. Burks presided 1-7 over the Texas Association of Nurserymen's merger with the Texas 1-8 Association of Landscape Contractors, which created a newly unified 1-9 industry organization, the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association; 1-10 and 1-11 WHEREAS, Mr. Burks is a distinguished leader in the botanical 1-12 industries; he has served as president of the All American Rose 1-13 Society, as chairman of the All American Rose Society Test 1-14 Committee, as a member of the American Association of Nurserymen 1-15 Grades and Standards Committee, and as lieutenant governor of the 1-16 American Association of Nurserymen; and 1-17 WHEREAS, An able businessman, Mr. Burks developed a unique 1-18 business structure in East Texas which established cooperative 1-19 rose-growing businesses; his ingenuity contributed to the region's 1-20 economic health while enabling families to remain on the family 1-21 farm; and 1-22 WHEREAS, Mr. Burks's keen understanding of how to earn 1-23 loyalty and motivation from his employees is evidenced by the 1-24 changes he made in his business structure; he gave his employees 2-1 the opportunity to own the business in which they worked, and in 2-2 1993 the business became an employee-owned firm; and 2-3 WHEREAS, The Burks family is part of the original group of 2-4 settlers who came from Georgia to settle Texas; proud of their 2-5 heritage and community, the Burks family still lives in the Tyler 2-6 area, where both of Joe Burks's sons work in the family business; 2-7 and 2-8 WHEREAS, Mr. Burks established and maintains a memorial 2-9 sunken garden in Mineral Wells in memory of Colonel Donald Burns; 2-10 Mr. Burks is certainly a valuable leader in his industry and 2-11 community; now, therefore, be it 2-12 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-13 76th Legislature, hereby commend Joe Burks for his outstanding 2-14 service as chairman of the Texas Association of Nurserymen and 2-15 extend to him sincere wishes for continued success and happiness 2-16 in the years to come; and, be it further 2-17 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be 2-18 prepared for Mr. Burks as an expression of high regard from the 2-19 Texas Senate. 2-20 Cain 2-21 ______________________________________ 2-22 President of the Senate 2-23 I hereby certify that the above 2-24 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 2-25 on April 29, 1999. 2-26 ______________________________________ 2-27 Secretary of the Senate 2-28 ______________________________________ 2-29 Member, Texas Senate