1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 590 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes great pride 1-4 in recognizing Betty King, one of our state's most beloved and 1-5 highly respected public servants, who is retiring after more than 1-6 53 years of outstanding service in the Texas Legislature; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Although Betty announced her retirement to be 1-8 effective December 31, 2000, she bowed to the pleas of those she 1-9 had served so well and so faithfully and agreed to put aside 1-10 personal considerations to guide the Senate through one last 1-11 legislative session; and 1-12 WHEREAS, Elected the 37th Secretary of the Texas Senate and 1-13 known to generations of lawmakers as the "gracious lady of the 1-14 Capitol," Betty King is stepping down after more than a half 1-15 century of remarkable work on behalf of our state's citizens and 1-16 its highest political leaders, a career unparalleled in Capitol 1-17 history; and 1-18 WHEREAS, A legendary figure in our state and an 1-19 irreplaceable officer of the Senate, Betty King was first 1-20 introduced to our legislative process at the age of 14 when she 1-21 served as an honorary page while her mother was working for the 1-22 Speaker of the House; and 1-23 WHEREAS, After attending The University of Texas at Austin, 1-24 Betty King began her career in the Capitol as a clerk for the 2-1 House Appropriations Committee; Betty worked for the Gilmer-Aikin 2-2 Committee before joining the staff of Senator Ottis Lock, who was 2-3 floor leader during much of the term of Governor Allan Shivers; 2-4 after serving as secretary for President Pro Tempore Culp Krueger 2-5 and as a staff member of the Bay Study Committee and the 2-6 Water Pollution Committee, Betty became Assistant Journal Clerk 2-7 in February, 1967, and was elected Journal Clerk in January, 2-8 1973; and 2-9 WHEREAS, After 28 years of service on the Senate staff, 2-10 Betty King was elected Secretary of the Senate, the highest 2-11 administrative post in the Senate, on the opening day of the 65th 2-12 Legislative Session in 1977; she went on to serve as Secretary of 2-13 the Senate longer than any other person in Texas history; and 2-14 WHEREAS, As the Texas Senate's chief executive 2-15 administrator, Betty King has read innumerable bills, has called 2-16 tens of thousands of roll calls, has supervised the Senate's 2-17 elected officers and central staff, and has worked closely with 2-18 senators' staffs; and 2-19 WHEREAS, Throughout her career, Betty King has served as a 2-20 beloved mentor and friend to members of the Senate and to 2-21 countless Senate employees; a woman with great poise and an 2-22 unflappable personality, Betty King is famous for her diplomatic 2-23 management of the Senate and for the loyalty and dedication she 2-24 has consistently shown each of the Senate's 31 members; and 2-25 WHEREAS, A frequently lauded leader in our state on both the 2-26 local and national levels, Betty was named one of the Outstanding 3-1 Women in Texas Government by the Governor's Commission for Women 3-2 in 1988; she has served as staff chair for the National Conference 3-3 of State Legislatures and has been the recipient of 3-4 the organization's Legislative Staff Achievement Award; she was 3-5 elected to the Board of the Foundation for State Legislatures in 3-6 1988 and has served as president of the American Society of 3-7 Legislative Clerks and Secretaries; and 3-8 WHEREAS, Betty's enduring commitment of time and energy to 3-9 the Senate has resulted in a record that could only be challenged 3-10 by her many accomplishments as a community leader; her endless 3-11 list of civic involvements includes serving as one of the 3-12 original docents of the Friends of the Governor's Mansion, 3-13 president of the board of trustees of Austin Lyric Opera, 3-14 treasurer of the Greater Austin Crime Commission, president of 3-15 the Girl Scouts-Lone Star Council, vice president of the Symphony 3-16 League, chairman of the Austin-Travis County Chapter of the 3-17 American Heart Association, and member of the board of the 3-18 Settlement Home; and 3-19 WHEREAS, Throughout Betty's career, her family has remained 3-20 a top priority; she is a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, 3-21 and her husband, Bill King, her daughter and her son-in-law, 3-22 Kevin Ann and Richard Marcyes, and her grandsons, Griffin and Max 3-23 Marcyes, are a source of joy and support; and 3-24 WHEREAS, Betty King is an exemplary lady of unequaled grace, 3-25 charm, and generosity, and her masterful leadership as Secretary 3-26 of the Senate has made an indelible imprint on our state's 4-1 legislative process; now, therefore, be it 4-2 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 77th 4-3 Legislature, hereby pay tribute to Betty King for her long and 4-4 distinguished career and for her invaluable contributions to the 4-5 Texas legislature; and, be it further 4-6 RESOLVED, That, in recognition of her peerless service to 4-7 the Texas Senate and of the honor and dignity she has brought to 4-8 the legislative process that make her a role model for all young 4-9 people entering public service, the Lieutenant Governor's 4-10 Committee Room be renamed the Betty King Committee Room as a 4-11 permanent testimonial of all that she has done for the Texas 4-12 Senate and for each one of us as friend, confidante, and mentor; 4-13 and, be it further 4-14 RESOLVED, That a plaque describing her public service be 4-15 placed for prominent display outside the Betty King Committee 4-16 Room; and, be it further 4-17 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 4-18 Betty King as an expression of highest esteem and affection from 4-19 the Texas Senate. 4-20 Truan 4-21 Armbrister Gallegos Ogden 4-22 Barrientos Harris Shapiro 4-23 Bernsen Haywood Shapleigh 4-24 Bivins Jackson Sibley 4-25 Brown Lindsay Staples 4-26 Cain Lucio Van de Putte 4-27 Carona Madla Wentworth 4-28 Duncan Moncrief West 4-29 Ellis Nelson Whitmire 4-30 Fraser Zaffirini 4-31 Ratliff, President of the Senate 5-1 ______________________________________ 5-2 President of the Senate 5-3 I hereby certify that the above 5-4 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 5-5 on April 26, 2001. 5-6 ______________________________________ 5-7 Secretary of the Senate, Designee 5-8 ______________________________________ 5-9 Dean of the Senate