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.