SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 90
         WHEREAS, Elissa Benford has exemplified the finest
  qualities of public service for the past 20 years, and though her
  retirement from the Texas Legislative Council on January 31,
  2011, brings to a close her work in state government, she will
  continue her work in the community, where she has already made a
  lasting difference in the lives of countless individuals; and
 
         WHEREAS, A former banking executive, Lisa Benford joined
  the Texas Legislative Council in 1990 as a redistricting analyst
  and today holds the post of research specialist; her myriad
  duties have included tracking and processing election data,
  training new employees, and serving as a council liaison to the
  office of the Texas secretary of state and to county election
  officials; in each of these areas, Lisa has earned the respect
  and admiration of many for her knowledge, skill, and exceptional
  dedication to customer service; and
 
         WHEREAS, Lisa has helped innumerable Texans outside the
  workplace as well through her philanthropic endeavors; in 1996,
  she founded Lisa's H.O.P.E. Chest, and the nonprofit has since
  provided business attire and other assistance to thousands of
  area residents transitioning to employment; in the wake of
  Hurricane Katrina, she was contacted by the Austin Police
  Department to help organize donations, and over the course of six
  weeks, Lisa and others distributed seven airplane hangars' worth
  of supplies to some 8,000 evacuees; she has carried out a number
  of significant community projects in her native Rockdale, too,
  such as the establishment of a home-ownership program and the
  purchase and restoration of the town's oldest African American
  residence, which now hosts civic events and offers accommodations
  to visiting families; Lisa was also instrumental in securing
  funds to establish a park in the town's African American community;
  and
 
         WHEREAS, Lisa was honored with a Daily Point of Light Award
  for all she has done to help people rebuild their lives, and in
  2009 she was invited to a special forum with Presidents George H.
  W. Bush and Barack Obama that celebrated the 20th anniversary of
  the Point of Light program; the many other accolades bestowed on
  her include the Outstanding Community Involvement Award from the
  State Agency Council of the Office of the Governor, the
  Humanitarian and Volunteer of the Year Awards from the Texas
  Department of Health and Human Services, the Volunteer of the
  Year Award from the Austin Area Urban League, and a Five Who Care
  Award from television station KVUE; and
 
         WHEREAS, Now poised to begin a new chapter in her life,
  Lisa is busy charting goals for the future; her plans include
  transforming the old Aycock High School in Rockdale into a
  community center and teaching classes in healthy cooking to area
  children; and
         WHEREAS, In all her endeavors, Lisa enjoys the love and
  support of her husband of 32 years, Thurman Benford, her
  children, Lucretia, Sedria, and Mark, and her grandchildren,
  Farrah, Brierra, Braxton, Paris, Makala, Rachael, Zophia, Mark,
  and Anehi; and
 
         WHEREAS, Lisa's coworkers at the council will sorely miss
  her cheerful smile and can-do spirit, but their dismay at her
  departure is somewhat tempered by the knowledge that if she can
  accomplish so much toward the greater good while working
  full-time, her capacity to change lives for the better is about
  to be magnified a hundred times over; seldom has any retirement
  held such rich and joyous promise; now, therefore, be it
 
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd
  Legislature, hereby honor Lisa Benford for her exemplary service
  to the people of the Lone Star State on the occasion of her
  retirement from the Texas Legislative Council and extend to her
  sincere best wishes for all the happiness and good fortune she so
  richly deserves; and, be it further
 
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
  prepared for Lisa Benford as an expression of high regard from
  the Texas Senate.
 
  Ogden
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on January 26, 2011.
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate