H.R. No. 1703



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The Mathis family of Gregg County can take 
justifiable pride in the three outstanding law enforcement officers 
it has contributed to its community; and
	WHEREAS, Officer James Mathis of the Longview Police 
Department, his twin brother, Sergeant John Mathis of the Gregg 
County Sheriff's Office, and Jennifer Mathis, a reserve deputy in 
the sheriff's office and daughter of James, have made peacekeeping 
in this East Texas county a family affair; and
	WHEREAS, Born and raised in Longview, John and James Mathis 
were inspired in their choice of vocation by the example of their 
grandfather, a policeman in Cleveland, Ohio; the brothers served as 
reserve officers in their respective agencies for a number of years 
before assuming full-time status; and
	WHEREAS, Sergeant John Mathis has worked with the sheriff's 
office for 25 years and spent 16 of those years serving warrants; a 
full-time member of the police department since 1994, Officer James 
Mathis currently serves as the school resource officer at Forest 
Park Middle School, having transferred there recently from patrol 
duty; and
	WHEREAS, Jennifer Mathis, who has ridden in patrol cars with 
both her father and uncle as an Explorer and reserve officer, will 
be graduating from The University of Texas at Tyler in December 2003 
with a degree in criminal justice and will likely join the police 
force in nearby Kilgore; this promising young officer was named 
Most Outstanding Criminal Justice Student at Kilgore College and 
has been awarded a scholarship from the Peace Officers Memorial 
Foundation; and
	WHEREAS, Each of these dedicated law officers was singled out 
for recognition from their departments in 2002:  John Mathis was 
nominated as Supervisor of the Year, James Mathis, as Longview 
Police Officer of the Year, and Jennifer Mathis, as Reserve Deputy 
of the Year; and
	WHEREAS, In addition to their professional service to the 
community, both John and James Mathis have been active in local 
politics; as a member of the Longview Police Officers Association 
Board of Directors for the past seven years, James Mathis has played 
a key role in raising the profile of that organization; on other 
fronts, the brothers helped elect the first African American woman 
to serve on the Longview City Council and have even discussed making 
a run for public office themselves; and
	WHEREAS, With a combined 54 years of experience as Texas 
peacekeepers, John, James, and Jennifer Mathis embody the highest 
ideals of the law enforcement profession, and their selfless 
devotion to the welfare of their community is indeed deserving of 
their fellow citizens' deepest gratitude; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby honor Sergeant John Mathis, Officer James 
Mathis, and Reserve Deputy Jennifer Mathis for their exemplary 
service to the people of Gregg County and extend to them sincere 
best wishes for continued success in all their endeavors; and, be it 
further
	RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared 
for Sergeant Mathis, Officer Mathis, and Deputy Mathis as an 
expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

                                                                         Merritt

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 1703 was adopted by the House on May 
31, 2003, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House