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