1-1                                     1                                  
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 196
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
 1-4     recognize the Reverend Richard E. Tankerson, who is retiring
 1-5     from his position as chairman of the VIA Metropolitan Transit
 1-6     Board of Trustees after five and one-half years of loyal service;
 1-7     and
 1-8           WHEREAS, Mr. Tankerson provided outstanding leadership to
 1-9     VIA, an agency that provides public transportation services to
1-10     Bexar County; under his insightful guidance, VIA's services and
1-11     amenities to customers greatly improved, and the agency rebounded
1-12     to sound fiscal shape; and
1-13           WHEREAS, Mr. Tankerson became chairman of the board in
1-14     June of 1995, and during his term, he executed a five-year plan
1-15     of action that eliminated an annual $18 million deficit and
1-16     provided much needed direction and structure to the agency; and
1-17           WHEREAS, During his tenure, construction was completed
1-18     on the Ingram Transit Center and the South Texas Medical Center
1-19     Transfer Center; VIA's inventory of Park and Ride facilities
1-20     increased with the addition of the Ellis Alley Park and Ride
1-21     downtown, and the VIA Metro Center and Streetcar Station were
1-22     erected; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, The VIA fleet was upgraded with the purchasing
 2-2     of new revenue vehicles to replace aging buses, and in
 2-3     September of 1999, the first of VIA's new low-floor, 40-foot
 2-4     buses appeared on the streets of San Antonio; the buses have
 2-5     ramps for wheelchair access, clean diesel engines to reduce
 2-6     emissions, and improved safety-oriented braking and lighting
 2-7     systems; and
 2-8           WHEREAS, In 1996, the Classroom on Wheels education program
 2-9     was launched to teach children about the benefits of mass
2-10     transportation, and VIA introduced the Ozone Season Pass for
2-11     use during state-declared Ozone Action Days; in 1997, the pilot
2-12     Bike and Ride program was initiated, and an agreement has now
2-13     been finalized to put bike racks on VIA's entire fleet by the
2-14     end of 2001; and
2-15           WHEREAS, In 1999, Mr. Tankerson received an Industry,
2-16     Innovation, and Leadership award from the Conference of Minority
2-17     Transportation Officials for the major role he played in
2-18     transforming VIA Metropolitan Transit from a state of near
2-19     bankruptcy to its present status as the number one transit
2-20     agency in Texas; and
2-21           WHEREAS, Mr. Tankerson is highly respected for his many
2-22     accomplishments as chairman of VIA and for his leadership in
2-23     the San Antonio community; he is currently the director of
2-24     the Texas Department on Aging and serves on numerous boards,
 3-1     including the Downtown Advisory Board, Bexar County Opportunities
 3-2     Industrialization Center, Incorporated, and the Hispanic
 3-3     Chamber of Commerce; he was a longtime pastor in the African
 3-4     Methodist Episcopal Church; and
 3-5           WHEREAS, An exemplary and distinguished gentleman who
 3-6     is noted for his engaging personality and sense of humor,
 3-7     Mr. Tankerson is beloved by his friends and former colleagues
 3-8     at VIA Metropolitan Transit, and his presence as chairman of
 3-9     the board of trustees will be greatly missed; now, therefore,
3-10     be it
3-11           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
3-12     77th Legislature, hereby commend Richard E. Tankerson on his
3-13     remarkable accomplishments on behalf of VIA Metropolitan
3-14     Transit and extend to him best wishes for the future; and,
3-15     be it further
3-16           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
3-17     him as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
3-18                                                            Van de Putte
3-19                                  ______________________________________
3-20                                          President of the Senate
3-21                                       I hereby certify that the above
3-22                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
3-23                                  on February 6, 2001.
3-24                                  ______________________________________
3-25                                          Secretary of the Senate
3-26                                  ______________________________________
3-27                                           Member, Texas Senate