By Pitts H.R. No. 1218 77R16979 MDM-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The August 31, 2001, retirement of Lois Neill Ewald 1-2 as executive director of the Texas Optometry Board will bring to a 1-3 close an outstanding tenure in public service in behalf of the 1-4 citizens of Texas; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Born in Blanco, Mrs. Ewald was valedictorian of her 1-6 high school class, earned a secretarial science degree from 1-7 Durham's Business College, and is a graduate of the LBJ School of 1-8 Public Affairs Governor's Executive Development Program, Class II; 1-9 and 1-10 WHEREAS, This esteemed professional started her career with 1-11 the state as a clerk with the Texas Highway Department, now the 1-12 Texas Department of Transportation, ultimately became a division 1-13 director, and helped establish the Texas Tourist Development 1-14 Agency; she then managed a law firm for several years before 1-15 returning to state employment in 1973 as executive director of the 1-16 Texas Optometry Board; and 1-17 WHEREAS, Under Mrs. Ewald's dynamic leadership, a staff of 1-18 six licenses and regulates approximately 3,000 optometrists in the 1-19 Lone Star State; and 1-20 WHEREAS, A founder of the Health Professions Council, 1-21 Mrs. Ewald currently chairs that organization's training committee 1-22 and is a member of the administrative committee; she has headed 1-23 several committees of the Association of Regulatory Boards of 1-24 Optometry (ARBO), participates on the ARBO Data Collections 2-1 Committee, and has played a key role in establishing a national 2-2 databank for optometrists; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Her well-deserved accolades include a nomination for 2-4 Woman of the Year by the Executive Women in Texas Government in 2-5 1998; she was the first recipient of the Dr. William D. Pittman 2-6 Optometric Leadership Award presented by the University of Houston 2-7 College of Optometry in 1996, and she received the Leadership Award 2-8 1996-Productivity Bonus Program from the Texas Incentive and 2-9 Productivity Commission; and 2-10 WHEREAS, Lois Ewald is an exceptional asset to the State of 2-11 Texas, and it is indeed a pleasure to pay tribute to her for her 2-12 outstanding professional achievements; now, therefore, be it 2-13 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-14 Legislature hereby recognize Lois Ewald on the occasion of her 2-15 retirement from the Texas Optometry Board and extend to her best 2-16 wishes as she embarks on a new phase in her life; and, be it 2-17 further 2-18 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-19 prepared for Mrs. Ewald as an expression of high regard by the 2-20 Texas House of Representatives.