By Homer                                             H.C.R. No. 189
         77R8256 GMW-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, Elaine Ballard's receipt of a Lifetime Achievement
 1-2     Award at the 2001 "I Love Paris" gala of the Paris Education
 1-3     Foundation provides a fitting opportunity to pay tribute to this
 1-4     esteemed woman; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented each
 1-6     year to individuals in the Paris community who have shown
 1-7     outstanding leadership and a steadfast commitment to their fellow
 1-8     citizens, and Elaine Ballard was a natural choice for this honor
 1-9     given her remarkable record of public service; and
1-10           WHEREAS, Raised in Lamar County, Mrs. Ballard knew from the
1-11     time she was a freshman in high school that she wanted to be an
1-12     educator, and demonstrating her trademark drive and dedication she
1-13     finished her elementary and high school education in 11 years, as
1-14     salutatorian of her graduating class, and her undergraduate degree
1-15     from East Texas State University in three years before earning her
1-16     master's degree from her alma mater; since 1965, this distinguished
1-17     Texan has dedicated herself to the education of children in the
1-18     Paris Independent School District; and
1-19           WHEREAS, After first serving as an elementary teacher for
1-20     seven years, she worked as the district's director of elementary
1-21     education beginning in 1972, and five years later became a
1-22     principal; for the past 19 years, Mrs. Ballard has ably served as
1-23     the first female Paris ISD superintendent, and her nearly two
1-24     decades of continuous devotion make her the longest-tenured female
 2-1     superintendent in Texas; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, Mrs. Ballard has demonstrated an unparalleled level
 2-3     of civic concern, not only through her work as superintendent, but
 2-4     also through her participation with the Lamar County Chamber of
 2-5     Commerce, Paris Rotary Club, CHRISTUS St. Joseph's Hospital, and
 2-6     numerous other community organizations and functions; moreover, she
 2-7     has been active with a host of professional associations and has
 2-8     provided continued leadership and support of public education in
 2-9     the Lone Star State through her involvement with countless
2-10     legislative and other education-related committees; and
2-11           WHEREAS, One of Mrs. Ballard's most significant
2-12     accomplishments was her role in the establishment of the Paris
2-13     Education Foundation, a dream she shared with community members of
2-14     Paris and supporters of the Paris ISD; and
2-15           WHEREAS, This accomplished woman has been presented numerous
2-16     noteworthy honors through the years, including the Outstanding
2-17     Educational Leadership Award from the Texas Council of Women School
2-18     Executives and the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Rotary
2-19     Foundation of Rotary International; and
2-20           WHEREAS, With her extraordinary record of public service,
2-21     Mrs. Ballard has profoundly benefited all those who reside in the
2-22     Paris area, and it is a privilege to honor her at this time; now,
2-23     therefore, be it
2-24           RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-25     hereby congratulate Elaine Ballard on her selection as a recipient
2-26     of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Paris Education Foundation
2-27     and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success and
 3-1     happiness; and, be it further
 3-2           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
 3-3     prepared for Mrs. Ballard as an expression of high regard by the
 3-4     Texas House of Representatives and Senate.