78R4792 JHS-D

By:  Bonnen                                                       H.R. No. 378



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Brazoria County resident Winston Avera has devoted 
his retirement years to effecting change in the Lone Star State's 
programs for mentally retarded and mentally disabled Texans, and he 
is truly deserving of special recognition for his efforts in this 
worthy endeavor; and
	WHEREAS, The father of an autistic child, Mr. Avera has 
dedicated himself to changing the inequities that have 
traditionally existed in the funding of home-based and 
community-based services (HCS) in Texas; and
	WHEREAS, This commendable gentleman has appeared before the 
HCS Equity Task Force in order to emphasize the disparity that 
exists in regional funding for programs in Texas for the mentally 
retarded and mentally disabled; nationally, Texas has ranked near 
the bottom in budgeting for these programs; and
	WHEREAS, A longtime employee of Dow Chemical Company, Mr. 
Avera was appointed to the board of directors of the Gulf Coast 
Center by the Brazoria County Commissioners Court; this appointment 
has enabled him to work more effectively in support of his fellow 
citizens in Brazoria and Galveston counties and to try to ensure 
that the appropriate resources are available to mentally retarded 
and mentally disabled Texans throughout the state; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Avera and his wife Connie understand the 
challenges faced by parents of mentally retarded or mentally 
disabled children, and Winston Avera has worked diligently to help 
ease the burden on parents and to make it possible for our state's 
mentally retarded and mentally disabled citizens to live happy, 
healthy lives within their own communities; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby pay tribute to Winston Avera for his exemplary 
efforts in behalf of the state's mentally retarded and mentally 
disabled citizens and that he be extended sincere best wishes for 
continued success in achieving his goals; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for Mr. Avera as an expression of high regard by the Texas 
House of Representatives.