By:  Truan                                               S.R. No. 1
         2001S0092/2                            
                                  SENATE RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Texas Senate is proud to pay tribute to the
 1-2     Honorable Rick Perry, Governor of the State of Texas, who is so
 1-3     richly deserving of the esteem and respect of the members of this
 1-4     body; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Whether as lieutenant governor, state agriculture
 1-6     commissioner, or state representative, Rick Perry has always been
 1-7     noted for his honesty, his integrity, and his deep love of Texas;
 1-8     and
 1-9           WHEREAS, Elected lieutenant governor in 1998 on a platform of
1-10     juntos podemos, together we can, Rick Perry has extended the hand
1-11     of friendship across party lines to ensure a brighter future for
1-12     all Texans; and
1-13           WHEREAS, A fifth-generation Texan, Rick Perry was born in
1-14     Paint Rock, Texas; he attended Texas A&M University, where he
1-15     served in the Corps of Cadets and as a yell leader; the experience
1-16     he gained at Texas A&M would prove invaluable in his future
1-17     political career; and
1-18           WHEREAS, After graduating in 1972 with a degree in animal
1-19     science, he joined the United States Air Force, flying a C-130
1-20     until his honorable discharge four and one-half years later; and
1-21           WHEREAS, Elected to the Texas House of Representatives in
1-22     1984, he quickly gained a reputation as an able and effective
1-23     legislator; he served with distinction on the powerful House
1-24     Appropriations and Calendars committees and was recognized as one
1-25     of the top legislators in Texas by the Dallas Morning News; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, During his eight-year tenure as Texas Commissioner
 2-2     of Agriculture, Governor Perry successfully promoted and expanded
 2-3     markets for Texas agricultural products; an agribusinessman, he
 2-4     intuitively understood the needs of Texas farmers and ranchers; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, Throughout his distinguished career, Governor
 2-6     Perry's first priority has always been the  school children of
 2-7     Texas; the initiator of the Master Reading Teacher program, which
 2-8     is designed to ensure that the reading knowledge and skills of
 2-9     Texas school children continue to grow throughout their public
2-10     school careers, he also helped ensure the passage of the franchise
2-11     tax credit for businesses that devoted some of their corporate
2-12     resources to help support before, after, and summer school
2-13     programs; and
2-14           WHEREAS, During the 76th Legislature, Governor Perry gained
2-15     broad based nonpartisan support for the Special Commission on 21st
2-16     Century Colleges and Universities and the Advisory Council on the
2-17     Digital Economy, charged with helping keep Texas at the edge of
2-18     high-technology research, development, and job creation; and
2-19           WHEREAS, A true family man, Rick is the loving husband of
2-20     Anita and the devoted father of Griffin and Sydney; and
2-21           WHEREAS, His honor is unchallenged and his promises are kept,
2-22     making Rick Perry a man justly to be praised; now, therefore, be it
2-23           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 77th
2-24     Legislature, hereby commend Rick Perry for his exceptional yeoman
2-25     service on behalf of his fellow Texans and congratulate him in his
2-26     new position as Governor of Texas; and, be it further
 3-1           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
 3-2     Governor Perry as an expression of enduring friendship from the
 3-3     Texas Senate.