By Smith                                               H.R. No. 282
         77R6594 JKB-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Miss Texas Scholarship Pageant, held annually in
 1-2     Fort Worth, has long provided its participants with the opportunity
 1-3     to gain poise, confidence, and life skills that will benefit them
 1-4     throughout their lives, and this esteemed organization is most
 1-5     deserving of special recognition; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, The Miss Texas Pageant was founded in 1936, and has
 1-7     since drawn contestants from across the state to Tarrant County to
 1-8     compete for the coveted title of Miss Texas; once named, the winner
 1-9     joins women from throughout the nation in the Miss America Pageant;
1-10     and
1-11           WHEREAS, Miss Texas travels throughout the state during her
1-12     year-long reign to speak at schools and to other groups, addressing
1-13     community  issues and matters that are relevant to young Texans and
1-14     women; and
1-15           WHEREAS, Through tremendous hard work and cooperation in
1-16     their communities, hundreds of volunteers organize the preliminary
1-17     competitions, secure scholarship awards, and support such
1-18     worthwhile endeavors as the "Texas Cares for Children" program,
1-19     which focuses on self-esteem and drug awareness in public schools;
1-20     and
1-21           WHEREAS, Among the many cities that actively support the Miss
1-22     Texas Scholarship Pageant is the Hurst-Euless-Bedford (HEB)
1-23     community, whose numerous volunteers, organizers, sponsors, and
1-24     participants give generously of their time and many talents on
 2-1     behalf of this time-honored event; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, Recent years have seen much success for HEB's local
 2-3     pageant, as both the current Miss Texas, Tara Watson, and the 1999
 2-4     Miss Texas, Yanci Yarbrough, were representatives of this North
 2-5     Texas community;  these two exceptional women have spoken at more
 2-6     than 500 schools, addressing 300,000 students on a host of
 2-7     important issues facing today's youth; and
 2-8           WHEREAS, The Miss Texas Scholarship Pageant and the many
 2-9     individuals who support this long-standing organization have made
2-10     significant contributions toward the betterment of the state and it
2-11     is a privilege to honor their noteworthy efforts at this time;
2-12     now, therefore, be it
2-13           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-14     Legislature hereby commend all those associated with the Miss Texas
2-15     Scholarship Pageant and extend sincere best wishes for the
2-16     pageant's continued success in years to come.