By Giddings                                            H.R. No. 276
         77R6415 MJS-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The 2000 chess team from The University of Texas at
 1-2     Dallas (UTD) captured first place at the prestigious 46th Pan
 1-3     American Intercollegiate Team Championship, and this outstanding
 1-4     achievement provides a perfect opportunity to honor the myriad
 1-5     accomplishments of this exceptional group; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, After finishing as the tournament's runner-up in
 1-7     1999, the UTD chess team outwitted such formidable foes as Stanford
 1-8     University and the University of Chicago to secure the school's
 1-9     first-ever title at the Pan American Intercollegiate Team
1-10     Championship, which is held annually in December to determine the
1-11     best college team in North, South, and Central America; and
1-12           WHEREAS, Under the astute guidance  and leadership of founder
1-13     and director Dr. Tim Redman, the UTD chess team has enjoyed
1-14     remarkable success since its inception in 1995, including winning
1-15     the National Collegiate Chess League Championship in 1999 and 2000;
1-16     and
1-17           WHEREAS, Members of the 2000 UTD chess team dedicated their
1-18     season to teammate Steven A. Grubbs, who tragically passed away in
1-19     September; although he will be deeply missed, his infectious
1-20     spirit, caring nature, and genuine compassion for his fellow
1-21     citizens will continue to live on in all those whose lives he
1-22     touched; and
1-23           WHEREAS, These exemplary chess players also generously donate
1-24     their time and considerable talents to the community and are
 2-1     actively involved with the Dallas Chess in the Schools Program, in
 2-2     which they provide instruction and teach the game to elementary
 2-3     schoolchildren in Dallas public schools; moreover, UTD's chess team
 2-4     is organizing an international conference to study the benefits of
 2-5     using chess as an educational instrument to enhance students'
 2-6     analytical, critical thinking, and problem solving skills; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, The UTD chess team has demonstrated the requisite
 2-8     mental toughness and competitive excellence necessary not only to
 2-9     succeed in chess but also in the classroom, and it is most
2-10     appropriate to pay tribute to its many estimable members at this
2-11     time; now, therefore, be it
2-12           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-13     Legislature hereby congratulate the 2000 chess team from The
2-14     University of Texas at Dallas for its many accomplishments and
2-15     extend to its members sincere best wishes for continued success and
2-16     good fortune; and, be it further
2-17           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-18     prepared for the 2000 UTD chess team as an expression of high
2-19     regard by the Texas House of Representatives.