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.