By: Barrientos S.C.R. No. 17 1-1 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-2 WHEREAS, State law (Section 2165.256, Government Code) 1-3 specifies those persons eligible for burial in the State Cemetery 1-4 and authorizes the legislature to grant eligibility to other 1-5 persons through the adoption of a concurrent resolution; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Commissioner of the Texas Rehabilitation Commission, 1-7 Vernon "Max" Arrell and his wife, Betty B. Arrell, have expressed a 1-8 desire to be buried in the State Cemetery, and their request merits 1-9 approval based on Commissioner Arrell's more than 40 years of 1-10 public service to the citizens of the State of Texas primarily in 1-11 the field of rehabilitation of persons with disabilities; and 1-12 WHEREAS, Commissioner Arrell has served as Commissioner of 1-13 the Texas Rehabilitation Commission for 20 years, the longest 1-14 tenure of any sitting chief executive officer of any state agency 1-15 in Texas; he has worked tirelessly to improve opportunities and the 1-16 quality of life for persons with disabilities; and 1-17 WHEREAS, Commissioner Arrell began his public service career 1-18 in Texas in 1961 as a vocational rehabilitation counselor with the 1-19 Texas Education Agency's Department of Vocational Rehabilitation 1-20 and rapidly advanced to positions of increasing responsibility as a 1-21 programs consultant and then as assistant director for special 1-22 programs; in 1968, he went to work for the Texas Department of 1-23 Mental Health and Mental Retardation as Assistant Director of 1-24 Vocational Rehabilitation, where his commitment to public service 2-1 was further recognized by his advancement to Director of the 2-2 Alcoholism and Drug Abuse program; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Commissioner Arrell returned to the Vocational 2-4 Rehabilitation Program in 1970, which was then a division of the 2-5 newly created Texas Rehabilitation Commission, and served in 2-6 several executive level positions until 1981, when he was appointed 2-7 commissioner; and 2-8 WHEREAS, Commissioner Arrell's tireless efforts to champion 2-9 the rehabilitation needs of persons with disabilities has 2-10 contributed to the rehabilitation of well over one million Texans 2-11 with disabilities during his tenure at the Texas Rehabilitation 2-12 Commission and its predecessor agency; he is acknowledged 2-13 nationally as an expert in the field of vocational rehabilitation 2-14 and has been appointed to numerous task forces and committee 2-15 assignments at the request of both federal and state oversight 2-16 bodies; and 2-17 WHEREAS, Commissioner Arrell has devoted his life to public 2-18 service and this state; he has served as a statesman to ensure 2-19 people with disabilities are afforded equal opportunities in the 2-20 workplace and in society; he is a man of honor, integrity, and 2-21 character, which are attributes that are ever present in his 2-22 dedication to work and community; now, therefore, be it 2-23 RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-24 hereby authorize the burial of Vernon "Max" Arrell and wife, Betty 2-25 B. Arrell, in the State Cemetery, provided proper application for 2-26 assignment of burial space is made to the General Services 3-1 Commission as required by law.