R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Juan Manuel "J. M." Farias of Eagle Pass has devoted 1-2 more than three decades to providing children with a quality 1-3 education through his work as a teacher, coach, and school 1-4 administrator; and 1-5 WHEREAS, A talented athlete who played in a semiprofessional 1-6 Mexican baseball league at the age of 14, Mr. Farias was able to 1-7 parlay his exceptional ability into a partial scholarship to 1-8 Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde and went on to earn his 1-9 bachelor's degree from Texas A&I-Kingsville and a master's degree 1-10 in education from Sul Ross State University; and 1-11 WHEREAS, He joined the staff at his alma mater, Eagle Pass 1-12 High School in 1969, and during his highly productive 32-year 1-13 tenure with that institution, he has worked to help his students as 1-14 an educator, coach, principal, and mentor; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Mr. Farias's exceptional teaching ability is 1-16 reflected both inside and outside the classroom; he coached the 1-17 school's baseball team for 17 years, and during this time the team 1-18 earned six district, four bi-district, and three area 1-19 championships, and more than 40 of his players have earned college 1-20 baseball scholarships; and 1-21 WHEREAS, Believing that everything is achievable if students 1-22 show determination in their education, Mr. Farias helped organize 1-23 the Southwest Texas State University Eagle Pass Student Endowment 1-24 Program, which provides scholarship funds for high school 2-1 graduates; in recognition of his many educational contributions he 2-2 received the Eagle Pass Business Journal Award as the 1997 2-3 Professional of the Year, the only high school principal to receive 2-4 this honor; and 2-5 WHEREAS, Mr. Farias has for many years provided the youth of 2-6 Eagle Pass with the skills and desire necessary to achieve success; 2-7 his efforts have greatly benefited the Eagle Pass community and the 2-8 State of Texas, and he is indeed worthy of special recognition at 2-9 this time; now, therefore, be it 2-10 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-11 Legislature hereby commend Juan Manuel "J. M." Farias for his many 2-12 significant contributions to education in his community and in 2-13 Texas and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success; 2-14 and, be it further 2-15 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-16 prepared for Mr. Farias as an expression of high regard by the 2-17 Texas House of Representatives. Gallego _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 539 was adopted by the House on May 17, 2001, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House