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.