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By:  Baxter                                                       H.R. No. 255







R E S O L U T I O N

	WHEREAS, The Honorable Terry Keel of Austin has rendered 

exceptional service to his fellow citizens throughout his tenure in 

the Texas House of Representatives; and

	WHEREAS, First elected to the house in 1996, Representative 

Keel was returned to four succeeding legislatures by the 

constituents of District 47; he currently serves as chairman of the 

committee on criminal jurisprudence, and he was chair of the select 

interim committee on sex offender statutes and the select committee 

on election contests; and

	WHEREAS, A former Travis County sheriff and assistant 

district attorney, Representative Keel has authored or sponsored a 

number of successful bills relating to the criminal justice system 

as well as bills relating to property and education; and

	WHEREAS, Before entering the legislature, Terry Keel served 

as sheriff of Travis County from 1992 to 1997; the first Republican 

elected to that office since Reconstruction, he supervised a staff 

of more than 1,200 and managed an inmate population of more than 

2,500; during his tenure, he established a professional 

victim-services program and collaborated with the Austin Police 

Department in organizing joint law enforcement operations; he also 

expanded inmate agriculture, labor, and education programs; and

	WHEREAS, While assistant district attorney, from 1984 to 

1992, he served as lead prosecutor in more than 50 contested felony 

jury trials and held the position of chief prosecutor over several 

units; additionally, he was designated the lead assistant D.A. in 

numerous capital murder, homicide, sexual assault, and attempted 

capital murder cases; and

	WHEREAS, This distinguished Texan has given generously of his 

time and expertise to the advisory council of the Crime Victims' 

Institute, in the Texas attorney general's office, and to the 

advisory board of the St. Edward's University School of Behavioral 

and Social Sciences; and

	WHEREAS, Representative Keel has received accolades from the 

chief of the APD and from a host of law enforcement organizations, 

as well as from the Austin Fire Fighters Association, Texas Library 

Association, and The University of Texas System Board of Regents; 

in 2000 and 2001, he was recognized by the State Bar of Texas for his 

significant contributions to the delivery of legal services to 

low-income Texans; and

	WHEREAS, A fifth-generation Austinite, Representative Keel 

is the father of twin sons, Travis and Sean; he is a parishioner of 

Emmaus Catholic Church, in Lakeway, and a charter board member of 

the APD chapter of the Emerald Society of Texas; and

	WHEREAS, In the nearly 10 years he has spent in the house of 

representatives, Terry Keel has brought his deep experience and 

formidable skills to bear, especially on the vital policy areas of 

public safety and criminal justice, and through his legislative 

leadership he has touched the lives of Texans across the Lone Star 

State; now, therefore, be it

	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 

Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby commend the Honorable Terry 

Keel for his outstanding service in the Texas House of 

Representatives and extend to him sincere appreciation for his 

tireless devotion to this state; and, be it further

	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 

prepared for Representative Keel as an expression of high regard by 

his colleagues in the Texas House of Representatives.