By Naishtat                                           H.R. No. 1238
         77R17784 JKB-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Dr. Patricia R. Cole, known throughout the
 1-2     legislative community as "Pat," is celebrating more than 25 years
 1-3     of leadership in health and human services public policy advocacy;
 1-4     and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Dr. Cole arrived on the legislative scene as an
 1-6     advocate for people with speech, hearing, and learning disorders
 1-7     and chemical dependencies, but due to her extensive knowledge,
 1-8     experience, and natural powers of persuasion, she quickly emerged
 1-9     as a proponent for myriad causes that affect women and their
1-10     families; and
1-11           WHEREAS, Appointed by former governor Ann Richards to serve
1-12     as the governor's director of health and human services policy,
1-13     this esteemed woman was responsible for the oversight of 12 state
1-14     agencies, including policy and program development, service
1-15     delivery, funding, and interagency coordination; in that role, she
1-16     aided the governor and the state legislature in such vital actions
1-17     as setting appropriate funding levels and serving as a liaison with
1-18     professional organizations and advocates throughout the state; and
1-19           WHEREAS, Recognizing the pervasive links between violence
1-20     against women, poverty, substance and alcohol abuse, and mental
1-21     illness, Dr. Cole turned her notable talents to these areas, and
1-22     she represented Communities in Schools and the Texas Council on
1-23     Family Violence; and
1-24           WHEREAS, Over the years, her passion for addressing the
 2-1     challenges facing low-income women and victims of domestic violence
 2-2     continued to grow, and she helped to form the National Training
 2-3     Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence in 1998, serving as both its
 2-4     associate director and its public policy director; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, Dr. Cole has authored numerous articles in scholarly
 2-6     publications, has received honors from many state and national
 2-7     organizations, and was recently honored as a Distinguished Alumni
 2-8     by the college of communication at The University of Texas at
 2-9     Austin; and
2-10           WHEREAS, A woman whose smile and sense of humor is surpassed
2-11     only by her visible commitment to her fellowman, Dr. Patricia Cole
2-12     has garnered the respect and admiration of her colleagues, her
2-13     friends, and past and present members of the Texas Legislature;
2-14     through her tireless efforts, she has raised awareness of important
2-15     issues, especially those affecting the women of this state, and it
2-16     is a privilege to honor her at this time; now, therefore, be it
2-17           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-18     Legislature hereby recognize May 24, 2001, as Pat Cole Appreciation
2-19     Day in Texas  and extend to her sincere best wishes for the future;
2-20     and, be it further
2-21           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-22     prepared for Dr. Cole as an expression of highest regard by the
2-23     Texas House of Representatives.