H.R. No. 750
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The retirement of Dr. Gerald Mann as senior pastor
of Riverbend Church in Austin provides an apt occasion to recognize
this renowned minister's myriad contributions to his faith
community; and
WHEREAS, A native of West Columbia, Dr. Mann earned his
bachelor's degree in religion at the University of Corpus Christi
while preaching at the First Baptist Church of Schulenburg, and he
later garnered his master's in theology and his doctorate in
philosophy from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; and
WHEREAS, Following the completion of his education, Dr. Mann
served as pastor of First Baptist Church of Hereford, before moving
to Austin to minister at University Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, This talented and dynamic public speaker soon
accepted a new role that would earn him statewide recognition;
named chaplain of the Texas Legislature, he ably served the House of
Representatives from 1975 to 1995 and the Senate from 1976 to 1996;
famous for his unique sense of humor that permeated his opening
"one-line zinger" prayers, Dr. Mann earned a dedicated following of
legislators and Capitol visitors alike; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Mann began his own church in 1979 with 60
committed members and a land grant in West Austin; through the
ensuing years, the congregation at Riverbend Church grew steadily,
and today more than 8,000 area residents attend regularly to hear
Dr. Mann's entertaining and inspiring sermons; in order to reach an
even wider audience, Dr. Mann's services were televised in the
Capital City and later syndicated internationally, reaching more
than 70 million homes; and
WHEREAS, The author of 11 books, the eminently quotable Dr.
Mann has been cited by a host of respected news sources, including
Newsweek, NBC Nightly News, and The Wall Street Journal; moreover,
he was recently named one of the most effective preachers in the
English-speaking world; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Mann's untiring efforts and rousing sermons
reflect an uncompromising commitment to making faith work in
everyday life, and it is a pleasure to join in celebrating his
outstanding record of achievement; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Gerald Mann on his retirement
as senior pastor of Riverbend Church and commend him for his years
of dedicated service to the Austin community; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Dr. Mann as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Baxter
Craddick Geren Menendez
Allen of Harris Giddings Merritt
Allen of Dallas Gonzales Miller
Alonzo Gonzalez Toureilles Moreno of Harris
Anchia Goodman Moreno of El Paso
Anderson Goolsby Morrison
Bailey Griggs Mowery
Baxter Grusendorf Naishtat
Berman Guillen Nixon
Blake Haggerty Noriega
Bohac Hamilton Oliveira
Bonnen Hamric Olivo
Branch Hardcastle Orr
Brown of Kaufman Harper-Brown Otto
Brown of Brazos Hartnett Paxton
Burnam Hegar Pena
Callegari Herrero Phillips
Campbell Hilderbran Pickett
Casteel Hill Pitts
Castro Hochberg Puente
Chavez Hodge Quintanilla
Chisum Homer Raymond
Coleman Hope Reyna
Cook of Navarro Hopson Riddle
Cook of Colorado Howard Ritter
Corte Hughes Rodriguez
Crabb Hunter Rose
Crownover Hupp Seaman
Davis of Harris Isett Smith of Tarrant
Davis of Dallas Jackson Smith of Harris
Dawson Jones of Lubbock Smithee
Delisi Jones of Dallas Solis
Denny Keel Solomons
Deshotel Keffer of Dallas Strama
Driver Keffer of Eastland Straus
Dukes King of Parker Swinford
Dunnam King of Zavala Talton
Dutton Kolkhorst Taylor
Edwards Krusee Thompson
Eiland Kuempel Truitt
Eissler Laney Turner
Elkins Laubenberg Uresti
Escobar Leibowitz Van Arsdale
Farabee Luna Veasey
Farrar Madden Villarreal
Flores Martinez Vo
Flynn Martinez Fischer West
Frost McCall Wong
Gallego McClendon Woolley
Gattis McReynolds Zedler
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 750 was adopted by the House on April
12, 2005, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House