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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Dorothy L. Stoker-Starks is retiring from the |
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Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Dallas in 2017, drawing to a |
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close a remarkable tenure with the center that spanned nearly half a |
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century; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Harleton, Mrs. Starks began her career |
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in nursing as a trainee at the VA Medical Center in 1969; she went on |
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to spend 45 years in the operating room as a certified surgical |
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technologist in neurology and plastic surgery and to serve as a |
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preceptor and advocate for those new to the field; she also |
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volunteered as an ambassador for veterans and their families; her |
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contributions to the VA North Texas Health Care System were |
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recognized with the Nursing of Excellence Award in 2012 and the |
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Daisy Ambassador Award in 2014; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to going above and beyond in her |
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professional duties, Mrs. Starks has served on the board of |
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directors of the Texas State Assembly of the Association of |
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Surgical Technologists, which awarded her a Fellowship of High |
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Honor in 2008, and as president of the T. Mathis Hawkins Section of |
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the National Council of Negro Women; moreover, she has given back to |
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her community by helping sponsor a local health fair, mentoring |
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young women, supporting the American Cancer Society, and assisting |
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families at the Ronald McDonald House; and |
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WHEREAS, An active member of the Alta Mesa Park Baptist |
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Church, Mrs. Starks serves as president of the General Mission and |
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assists with the congregation's various ministries; she has also |
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held the offices of president and parliamentarian of the Greater |
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Dallas Area Sisterhood of the Missionary Baptist General Convention |
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of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Retirement offers Mrs. Starks a welcome opportunity |
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to spend more time with her family, which includes her three |
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children, three grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan's commitment to the highest |
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standards of her profession has greatly benefited her fellow |
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citizens, and she may indeed reflect with pride on a career well |
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spent as she embarks on the next exciting chapter of her life; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Dorothy L. Stoker-Starks on her |
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retirement from the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Dallas and |
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extend to her sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mrs. Starks as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |