| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Former Dallas mayor Ron Kirk was confirmed as the |
|
|
first African American United States Trade Representative by the |
|
|
U.S. Senate on March 18, 2009; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Having been nominated for the cabinet-level post by |
|
|
President Barack Obama and having been confirmed by the U.S. |
|
|
Senate, Ambassador Kirk serves as the president's principal trade |
|
|
advisor, negotiator, and spokesperson on issues of international |
|
|
trade; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Ron Kirk holds a bachelor's degree in political |
|
|
science and sociology from Austin College and a law degree from The |
|
|
University of Texas; he began his career as a legislative aide for |
|
|
U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen before joining the Dallas office of the |
|
|
Texas Attorney General, after which he went on to become the |
|
|
assistant city attorney for governmental relations for Dallas; in |
|
|
1994, while working in the private sector, he was asked by Governor |
|
|
Ann Richards to serve a partial term as secretary of state; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The following year, Mr. Kirk became the first |
|
|
African American to be elected mayor of Dallas, and he was returned |
|
|
to office again in 1999 with a landslide 74 percent of the vote; as |
|
|
mayor, he was well known for his economic development efforts, |
|
|
which resulted in the creation of more than 45,000 jobs and an |
|
|
investment of over $3.5 billion in the city, and he successfully |
|
|
worked to reduce crime; moreover, he was respected for his ability |
|
|
to bring together diverse coalitions to effect change; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, This accomplished Texan most recently served as a |
|
|
partner at the international law firm of Vinson & Elkins; his |
|
|
principal area of practice was public finance and public policy, |
|
|
and he was named one of the nation's top government relations |
|
|
lawyers by The Best Lawyers in America from 2007 to 2009; in |
|
|
addition, The National Law Journal named him one of the 50 Most |
|
|
Influential Minority Lawyers in America; his other accolades |
|
|
include the Woodrow Wilson Center for Public Policy Outstanding |
|
|
Public Service Award and the Mickey Leland Leadership Award from |
|
|
Texas Southern University; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Mr. Kirk enjoys the love and |
|
|
support of his wife, Matrice Ellis-Kirk, their two daughters, |
|
|
Elizabeth Alexandra and Catherine Victoria, and his mother, |
|
|
longtime Austin civil rights activist Willie Mae Kirk; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Ambassador Kirk demonstrates a noteworthy |
|
|
commitment to excellence and public service, and it is indeed |
|
|
fitting to honor him on this latest achievement in his exceptional |
|
|
career; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby congratulate Ron Kirk on his confirmation as the |
|
|
first African American United States Trade Representative 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 Ambassador Kirk as an expression of high regard by the |
|
|
Texas House of Representatives. |
| |
|
|
Anchia |
|
|
Button |
|
|
Vaught |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 1617 was adopted by the House on May |
|
|
4, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |