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78S41321 KO-D

By:  McClendon                                                    H.R. No. 279



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Dr. Leonard E. Lawrence of San Antonio truly merits 
special recognition for his distinguished service as chairman of 
the board of the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) from September 1995 to 
February 2004; and
	WHEREAS, Appointed to the board in 1992 by Governor Ann 
Richards, Dr. Lawrence was unanimously elected chairman by his 
fellow board members three years later; in 1997, he was reappointed 
as board chairman by Governor George W. Bush; and
	WHEREAS, The TYC board is responsible for the management, 
integrity, and representation of the agency, and board members set 
policy and expectations both for the youth who are detained and for 
the employees who work at the facilities; under the inspired 
leadership of Dr. Lawrence, the agency has made great strides 
toward achieving the delicate balance between holding young people 
accountable for their crimes and ensuring that they receive the 
appropriate rehabilitative care; in 1999, the TYC was awarded the 
Governor's Texas Star Award as the outstanding mid-size state 
agency, and in 2003, the TYC was honored once again for excellence 
by a team that reviewed the management practices of all state 
agencies; and
	WHEREAS, Dr. Lawrence is a professor of psychiatry, 
pediatrics, and family and community medicine and the associate 
dean for student affairs at The University of Texas Health Science 
Center Medical School at San Antonio; he sets an exceptionally high 
standard for public service with his participation on the boards of 
numerous organizations; in addition to his 12-year tenure with the 
TYC board, Dr. Lawrence has served as president of the National 
Medical Association and the C. A. Whittier Medical Society; and
	WHEREAS, He has also served on the Council of Children, 
Adolescents and their Families of the American Psychiatric 
Association, of which he is a Distinguished Life Fellow, the 
National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse, the board of trustees of 
St. Mary's University, the board of trustees of the Baptist Health 
System Foundation, and many other worthy organizations; and
	WHEREAS, Dr. Lawrence can indeed look with tremendous pride 
on his notable accomplishments as TYC board chairman, and it is a 
pleasure to recognize his exemplary service to that agency as well 
as his continuing dedication to the organizations that benefit from 
his tireless efforts and leadership; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature, 4th Called Session, hereby honor Dr. Leonard E. 
Lawrence on the occasion of his retirement as chairman of the board 
of the Texas Youth Commission and extend to him deep appreciation 
for his exemplary public service; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for Dr. Lawrence as an expression of high regard by the 
Texas House of Representatives.