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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Chris Kyker is stepping down from her role with the |
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Texas Silver-Haired Legislature in 2017, and the conclusion of her |
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25 years with that organization provides a fitting opportunity to |
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recognize her extraordinary record of public service; and |
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WHEREAS, First elected to the TSHL from West Central Texas in |
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1992, Ms. Kyker presided over its sessions for two terms as |
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speaker, chaired the state affairs and technology committees, and |
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served on the executive, finance, legislative, and directory |
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committees; she also held a seat on the TSHL Foundation Board of |
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Directors for eight years, and she is the founding curator of the |
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TSHL Archives; in appreciation for her outstanding efforts to |
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advance the mission of the organization, she has been presented |
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with the Governor's Lifetime Achievement Award, the TSHL |
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Outstanding Leadership Award, and, on two occasions, the TSHL |
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Foundation Texas Silver Star Award; in 2008, she was designated |
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speaker emeritus; and |
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WHEREAS, A longtime, passionate advocate for the elderly and |
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those with disabilities, Ms. Kyker led the Texas Department on |
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Aging as its founding executive director from 1979 to 1984; before |
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assuming the helm of that agency, she served as executive director |
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of the Abilene Mental Health Association from 1963 to 1974 and as |
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founding director of the West Central Texas Area Agency on Aging |
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from 1974 to 1979; she subsequently served as a program specialist |
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with the Texas Department of Human Resources from 1984 to 1986 and |
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as founding president/CEO of Disability Resources, in Abilene, from |
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1986 to 1992; and |
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WHEREAS, This distinguished Texan has also served in a |
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volunteer capacity with more than 30 organizations and other |
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bodies; she has held gubernatorial appointments to the Transition |
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Legislative Oversight Committee and the Governor's Advisory |
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Council on Physical Fitness, and she has further served as |
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president of the National Mental Health Association Staff Council |
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and as a member of several advisory councils for The University of |
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Texas School of Social Work; in addition, she served as Texas state |
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coordinator in connection with the 1981 White House Conference on |
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Aging and as a delegate to the 2005 conference; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Kyker is an alumna of Abilene Christian |
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University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in English and |
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drama and master's degrees in speech education and communication; |
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moreover, she is a licensed master social worker; in recognition of |
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her myriad accomplishments, she was selected as Texas Outstanding |
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Senior Advocate by the Texas Conference on Aging in 2006 and as |
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Outstanding Alumnus of the Year by ACU in 2008; in 2015, she was |
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selected to represent Texas in a series of profiles celebrating the |
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50th anniversary of the Older Americans Act; and |
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WHEREAS, Chris Kyker's abiding concern for the welfare of |
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others and her incisive leadership have helped to shape both public |
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policy and the provision of social services in the Lone Star State, |
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and Texans will continue to benefit from her achievements for years |
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to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Chris Kyker for her immeasurable |
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contributions in behalf of her fellow citizens and extend to her |
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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 Ms. Kyker as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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Lambert |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1848 was adopted by the House on May |
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12, 2017, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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