By Dutton                                              H.R. No. 157
         77R4849 GMW-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Ovide Duncantell is retiring on January 31, 2001,
 1-2     from his position with Project RIO of the Texas Workforce
 1-3     Commission (TWC), and it is indeed a privilege to honor this
 1-4     esteemed gentleman for his many years of hard work and dedication;
 1-5     and
 1-6           WHEREAS, A Louisiana native, Mr. Duncantell earned bachelor's
 1-7     and master's degrees from Texas Southern University; he began his
 1-8     employment with TWC in 1984 as a part of the Welfare Work Incentive
 1-9     Program, assisting welfare recipients in gaining employment and
1-10     achieving economic independence; and
1-11           WHEREAS, After a productive tenure with TWC's College
1-12     Vocational Training program, during which he received the Top
1-13     Employment Hire Award in 1987, Mr. Duncantell joined Project RIO in
1-14     1990; he then enjoyed successful stints with the TWC Reclamation
1-15     Program, TWC Disabled Worker's Program, and the Job South Program,
1-16     after which he returned to Project RIO, where he has continued to
1-17     serve with distinction and from where he will retire after 16 years
1-18     of devoted state employment; and
1-19           WHEREAS, This civic-minded gentleman has also donated his
1-20     time and talents to numerous noteworthy organizations, including
1-21     being a board member for the Latino Learning Center in Houston and
1-22     a member of LULAC; moreover, he founded the Black Heritage Society
1-23     Inc., a nonprofit, self-help community agency for which he
1-24     currently serves as executive director; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, A devoted community leader and political activist,
 2-2     Ovide Duncantell has strived in his myriad professional and civic
 2-3     endeavors to ensure social justice for all, and it is indeed a
 2-4     privilege to pay tribute to him as he concludes an outstanding
 2-5     tenure of public service; now, therefore, be it
 2-6           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
 2-7     Legislature hereby honor Ovide Duncantell on the occasion of his
 2-8     retirement from Project RIO of the Texas Workforce Commission and
 2-9     extend to him sincere best wishes for success and happiness in the
2-10     future; and, be it further
2-11           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-12     prepared for Mr. Duncantell as an expression of high regard by the
2-13     Texas House of Representatives.