SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 414
         WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
  honor Von William Byer, committee director of the Senate
  Committee on Education, for his 10 years of outstanding service
  with Senator Florence Shapiro; and
         WHEREAS, A native of Kansas and proud graduate of the
  University of Kansas, Von Byer saw the light and moved to Texas,
  earning a law degree from The University of Texas School of Law in
  1998; and
         WHEREAS, He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1998
  and began working with Senator Shapiro in 1999 when she was chair
  of the Committee on State Affairs; he was a policy analyst for the
  committee and became one of the senator's primary advisors on
  constitutional reform, campaign finance laws, transportation,
  and bonding issues; and
         WHEREAS, He became general counsel for Senator Shapiro's
  office and subsequently general counsel of the Senate Committee
  on Education when the senator was appointed education committee
  chair for the 78th Legislature in 2003; quickly learning the
  intricacies of the complex and sometimes baffling topic of school
  finance, he helped the senator and her 30 colleagues pass a
  school finance bill by a vote of 31-0 in the Senate; and
         WHEREAS, Von has served as director of the Senate Committee
  on Education since November of 2003; he has survived four special
  sessions on school finance and has more than proved his mettle in
  the fast-paced environment of the legislature; while his
  specialty is school finance, Von ultimately holds responsibility
  for all issues before the committee; and
         WHEREAS, A man of many interests, Von is a student of the
  Austrian school of economics and a fervent proponent of
  individual liberty; he is a trusted advisor, mentor, and friend
  to his colleagues and an invaluable asset to the Texas Senate;
  now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st
  Legislature, hereby commend Von William Byer for his exemplary
  service with the Texas Senate and Senator Florence Shapiro and
  extend to him best wishes for the future; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
  him as an expression of highest regard from the Texas Senate.
  Shapiro
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on March 10, 2009.
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate