R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, On May 4, 2001, 11-year-old Leah Henry of Houston 1-2 was rescued in Kerr County, bringing to a successful close an 1-3 intensive operation that began with her kidnapping three days 1-4 earlier; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Authorities sprang into action on hearing of Leah's 1-6 abduction, fearing that her disappearance was the work of a serial 1-7 kidnapper who had already taken two other young girls captive, only 1-8 to release them later; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Acting on a tip by Kerrville area residents Robert 1-10 and Sharon Taylor, who spotted the abductor's car, law enforcement 1-11 personnel converged on Gary Dale Cox, catching him with the hostage 1-12 in his vehicle; Leah escaped from the car and was rescued by Kerr 1-13 County Sergeant David Billeiter, and the pursuit of the "I-10 1-14 Predator" ended when Mr. Cox took his own life; and 1-15 WHEREAS, In addition to Sergeant Billeiter, the Kerr County 1-16 Sheriff's Department staff involved in this successful 1-17 investigation included Sheriff W. R. "Rusty" Hierholzer; Chief 1-18 Deputy James Graham; Chief Investigator Ken Crosthwait; sergeants 1-19 Brown Stokes, Randall Sanders, and John Lavender; investigators 1-20 Carol Twiss, Roy Green, Bobby Johnson, and Pam Raymond; and 1-21 deputies Larry Drozd, Greg Stewart, Kevin Fowler, Sherry James, 1-22 Mark Bartell, Ruben Rodriguez, Carroll Schultz, Mark Myers, Mike 1-23 Smith, Rick Carter, Darin Trahan, and Mark Fields; and 1-24 WHEREAS, Other officers participating in the operation 2-1 included Sergeant Charles Seale and troopers Travis Hall and Coy 2-2 Morales of the Department of Public Safety; officers Paul Gonzales 2-3 and Steve Anthony of the Kerrville Police Department; Sergeant 2-4 Steve Backor and Game Warden Mark Chapa of the Parks and Wildlife 2-5 Department; W. T. Hall of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission; 2-6 Constable Joel Ayala; T. Sandlin of Kerr 9-1-1, and Investigator 2-7 Buddy Hierholzer, 216th D.A.; and 2-8 WHEREAS, The abduction of a child instills a sense of urgency 2-9 in all those who serve in the field of law enforcement, but this 2-10 must be tempered with adherence to procedure and the careful 2-11 pursuit of each lead; the safe return of Leah Henry is a credit to 2-12 all of the peace officers of Kerr County, and they are indeed 2-13 worthy of special legislative recognition at this time; now, 2-14 therefore, be it 2-15 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-16 Legislature hereby honor the Kerr County law enforcement officers 2-17 whose efforts played a vital role in the rescue of Leah Henry; and, 2-18 be it further 2-19 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-20 prepared for these dedicated men and women as an expression of high 2-21 regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Hilderbran _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1414 was adopted by the House on May 28, 2001, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House