H.R. No. 181

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Ronald G. Girotto is retiring as president and chief executive officer of the Methodist Hospital System in Houston on December 31, 2011, concluding a noteworthy career with the institution that has spanned more than three decades; and

WHEREAS, Since 1977, Ron Girotto has distinguished himself in a variety of executive positions within the Methodist system; he was named president and CEO in September 2002, having served as acting president and CEO for the previous year; under his skilled leadership, Methodist has partnered with Weill Cornell Medical College and New York Presbyterian Hospital, two of the country's most prestigious medical organizations, and it has completed a $1.5 billion expansion initiative; the system has opened new facilities, among them the Outpatient Center, the Methodist Hospital Research Institute, and Methodist West Houston Hospital, and it has undertaken major growth projects in its community hospitals; Methodist has been rated as one of America's Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report and for six consecutive years has been ranked among the country's "100 Best Companies to Work For" by FORTUNE magazine; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Girotto graduated from Pittsburg State University in Kansas, where he majored in business administration with concentrations in economics and finance; in addition, he holds a master's degree in accounting from Kansas University and a graduate degree in banking from Southern Methodist University, and he has completed further studies at the University of Houston in federal income tax and at Harvard University in financial management and strategy in health care; he served as chair of the Greater Houston Hospital Council and has shared his expertise as a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the Gulf Coast Independent Organ Procurement Organization, and the Texas A&M University Institute for Biosciences and Technology; and

WHEREAS, Very active in the wider community, Mr. Girotto serves on the Council of Overseers at the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management at Rice University and on the board of Faith in Practice; he has been a member of the boards of the Greater Houston Partnership and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and he has served as chair of the board of the Strake Jesuit College Preparatory School and of the finance committee for the Blue Bird Circle for Pediatric Neurology; moreover, he has worked in behalf of the American Heart Association as both chair and co-chair of the annual Heart Walk in Houston; the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation presented him with its Living and Giving Award in 2003, and he is the recipient of the Italian Flame award from the Federation of Italian-American Organizations of Greater Houston, the Celebrating Life award from the Living Bank, and the Pearl of the Orient award from The People Caring for the Community, among other accolades; and

WHEREAS, Ron Girotto has greatly benefited the Methodist Hospital System through his vision, dedication, and commitment to excellence in health care, and his retirement provides a fitting opportunity to recognize his outstanding contributions to the vitality of the Methodist Hospital System; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby congratulate Ronald G. Girotto on the occasion of his retirement as president and chief executive officer of the Methodist Hospital System and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Girotto as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

S. Davis of Harris

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 181 was adopted by the House on June 27, 2011, by a non-record vote.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House