H.R. No. 1817
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, The Honorable Robert Eckels stepped down in March
  2007 from the office of county judge of Harris County after
  rendering nationally acclaimed service in that critical post; and
         WHEREAS, First elected as county judge in 1994, Judge Eckels
  led the commissioners court of the third most populous county in the
  nation for more than a decade; the Harris County Commissioners
  Court, whose members collectively represent a population of over
  3.6 million, is responsible for providing basic governmental
  services to the more than one million county residents who live
  outside the limits of any incorporated municipality; as head of the
  commissioners court, Mr. Eckels also served as director of the
  Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
  and represented the county on numerous boards, committees, and
  regional councils of government; and
         WHEREAS, Among the priorities on which Judge Eckels focused
  during his tenure in office were transportation, homeland security,
  and health care; while chairing the Transportation Policy Council
  for the Houston-Galveston region, he played a vital role in
  drafting the Regional Transportation 2025 Plan; in 2005 Speaker Tom
  Craddick appointed him to the Study Commission on Transportation
  Financing, and he chairs both the Alliance of I-69 Texas and the
  Texas High Speed Rail & Transportation Corporation; and
         WHEREAS, Under his leadership, the Harris County Office of
  Homeland Security and Emergency Management became a national model
  for preparedness and response to emergency situations; considered
  an expert in local emergency management and response, Judge Eckels
  has testified on such matters before committees of both the U.S.
  House and Senate and serves on the state and local senior advisory
  committee to the president's Homeland Security Council; and
         WHEREAS, In order to facilitate better delivery of health
  care services to uninsured and underinsured residents, Judge Eckels
  guided Harris County and the Harris County Hospital District in
  forging strong partnerships with nonprofit, private, public, and
  faith-based health care providers and clinics; he is highly
  regarded for his expertise in devising and implementing acceptable
  air quality plans on the county level; and
         WHEREAS, When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated
  sections of the Gulf Coast, Robert Eckels coordinated and managed
  relief assistance for refugees that was widely admired for its
  efficient administration; in recognition of his outstanding
  efforts, he received the 2006 State Leader of the Year Award from
  the Jon Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Institute, as well as
  tributes from American City and County magazine, Partners for
  Livable Communities, the National Conflict Resolution Center, the
  Greater Houston Partnership, and Esquire magazine; and
         WHEREAS, Before assuming the office of county judge, Judge
  Eckels served six terms in the Texas House of Representatives, from
  1983 to 1994; a native of Houston, he received his undergraduate
  degree from the University of Houston and his law degree from South
  Texas College of Law; he is currently a partner with Fulbright &
  Jaworski; and
         WHEREAS, Robert Eckels has exemplified the highest standards
  of public service, and the conclusion of his tenure provides a
  fitting opportunity to recognize his immeasurable contributions to
  the people of Harris County; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas
  Legislature hereby commend the Honorable Robert Eckels for his
  exceptional leadership as county judge of Harris County and extend
  to him sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
  prepared for Judge Eckels as an expression of high regard by the
  Texas House of Representatives.
 
  Harless
 
 
Craddick Gattis Miles
 
Allen Geren Miller
 
Alonzo Giddings Moreno
 
Anchia Gonzales Morrison
 
Anderson Gonzalez Toureilles Mowery
 
Aycock Goolsby Murphy
 
Bailey Guillen Naishtat
 
Berman Haggerty Noriega
 
Bohac Hamilton O'Day
 
Bolton Hancock Oliveira
 
Bonnen Hardcastle Olivo
 
Branch Harless Orr
 
Brown of Kaufman Harper-Brown Ortiz, Jr.
 
Brown of Brazos Hartnett Otto
 
Burnam Heflin Parker
 
Callegari Hernandez Patrick
 
Castro Herrero Paxton
 
Chavez Hilderbran Pena
 
Chisum Hill Phillips
 
Christian Hochberg Pickett
 
Cohen Hodge Pierson
 
Coleman Homer Pitts
 
Cook of Navarro Hopson Puente
 
Cook of Colorado Howard of Fort Bend Quintanilla
 
Corte Howard of Travis Raymond
 
Crabb Hughes Riddle
 
Creighton Isett Ritter
 
Crownover Jackson Rodriguez
 
Darby Jones Rose
 
Davis of Harris Keffer Smith of Tarrant
 
Davis of Dallas King of Parker Smith of Harris
 
Delisi King of Taylor Smithee
 
Deshotel King of Zavala Solomons
 
Driver Kolkhorst Strama
 
Dukes Krusee Straus
 
Dunnam Kuempel Swinford
 
Dutton Latham Talton
 
Eiland Laubenberg Taylor
 
Eissler Leibowitz Thompson
 
Elkins Lucio III Truitt
 
England Macias Turner
 
Escobar Madden Van Arsdale
 
Farabee Mallory Caraway Vaught
 
Farias Martinez Veasey
 
Farrar Martinez Fischer Villarreal
 
Flores McCall Vo
 
Flynn McClendon West
 
Frost McReynolds Woolley
 
Gallego Menendez Zedler
 
Garcia Merritt Zerwas
 
  ______________________________
  Speaker of the House     
 
         I certify that H.R. No. 1817 was adopted by the House on May
  1, 2007, by a non-record vote.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House