By Merritt                                             H.R. No. 584
         77R10261 PCM-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, March 24, 2001, marks the 52nd birthday of our
 1-2     esteemed colleague, the Honorable Paul Hilbert, confirming as fact
 1-3     once and for all what many of us have long known--the man wasn't
 1-4     born yesterday; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, A native of Missouri, he earned bachelor's and
 1-6     master's degrees from Xavier University in Ohio before heading down
 1-7     to Texas to complete a law degree at South Texas College of Law and
 1-8     shamelessly carry on year-round with the true object of his
 1-9     affection--his beloved motorcycle; and
1-10           WHEREAS, Yes, underneath that staid, conservative exterior
1-11     beats the heart of a Peter Fonda wanna-be, and that hasn't lessened
1-12     throughout his long, slow sojourn into middle age; in fact, he has
1-13     assuaged his overwhelming "need for speed" with a series of macho
1-14     machines, including a Miata, a Jeep, and his present vehicles, a
1-15     Corvette convertible and a Harley Sportster, having sensibly
1-16     rejected the notion of owning a Dodge Viper as far too flashy, even
1-17     for a native of the Show Me State; and
1-18           WHEREAS, An attorney, mediator, and business development
1-19     consultant by profession, Mr. Hilbert has maintained a general
1-20     civil practice in Houston since 1975; known for his civility in
1-21     this chamber as well, he is in his 10th term in the house, where he
1-22     serves as vice chair of the Calendars Committee and as a member of
1-23     the State Affairs and Ways and Means committees and the Texas
1-24     Legislative Council, and is the leading contender for the title of
 2-1     Mr. Congeniality should a contest one day ensue; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, His many close friends insist that his willingness
 2-3     to come to Austin now for more than 15 years to serve in the state
 2-4     legislature has absolutely nothing to do with its ready access to
 2-5     the winding roads of the Hill Country, where his name can be found
 2-6     on the wall at Harry's on the Loop, and he has often been seen out
 2-7     cruising on his bike; and
 2-8           WHEREAS, Though he has hit a couple of rough bumps in the
 2-9     road of late, his colleagues take pleasure in the news that he is
2-10     taking good care of himself; Representative Hilbert is rumored to
2-11     be engaging in intensive sun therapy while being chauffeured about
2-12     town in his chariot of choice and contemplating a purely medicinal
2-13     visit to the Florida Keys, and we encourage him to pursue all means
2-14     possible to make the coming year his smoothest ride yet; now,
2-15     therefore, be it
2-16           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-17     Legislature hereby congratulate the Honorable Paul Hilbert on the
2-18     occasion of his 52nd birthday and extend to him heartfelt best
2-19     wishes for blue skies ahead; and, be it further
2-20           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-21     prepared for Representative Hilbert as an expression of highest
2-22     regard by his colleagues in the Texas House of Representatives.