SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 606
	WHEREAS, The Honorable Sam Johnson, a distinguished
	legislator who served four terms at the Texas Capitol as a state
	representative followed by a 26-year tenure as a member of the
	United States House of Representatives, has rendered extraordinary
	service to our state and nation; and
	WHEREAS, An alumnus of Woodrow Wilson High School in
	Dallas, Sam Johnson graduated with a degree in business
	administration from Southern Methodist University in 1951, and
	soon thereafter, at the age of 20, he entered the United States
	Air Force; and
	WHEREAS, After completing 62 combat missions as a fighter
	pilot during the Korean War, Mr. Johnson went on to become a
	member of the elite Air Force Thunderbirds and the director of
	the Air Force Fighter Weapons School; in 1966, while flying his
	25th combat mission during the Vietnam War, his plane was shot
	down over North Vietnam, and he was eventually taken captive and
	held at the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" prison camp; he ultimately
	endured nearly seven years in the facility before being returned
	to his homeland in February 1973, and he later chronicled his
	experiences in his autobiography, Captive Warriors:  A Vietnam
	POW's Story; and
	WHEREAS, Congressman Johnson concluded his exemplary
	29-year career in the United States Air Force in 1979, retiring
	at the rank of colonel; his numerous military commendations and
	accolades include two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, the
	Distinguished Flying Cross, a Bronze Star with Valor, two Purple
	Hearts, four Air Medals, and three Outstanding Unit Awards;
	moreover, he was retroactively awarded the Prisoner of War Medal
	following its creation in 1985; and
	WHEREAS, In his civilian life, this esteemed Texan founded
	a home-building business, and he was elected in 1984 to the first
	of four consecutive terms in the Texas House of Representatives;
	since 1991, he has represented the Third District of Texas in the
	United States Congress, where he serves on the Committee on Ways
	and Means; throughout his career in Congress, he has made the
	welfare of the men and women in the military one of his foremost
	priorities, and his recent efforts in their behalf include
	securing approval for two new veterans health clinics in his
	district; in 2009, he was awarded the National Patriots Award,
	the highest civilian accolade conferred by the Congressional
	Medal of Honor Society, and he also had the distinction of being
	named by his peers as the "most admired" Republican in the United
	States House of Representatives; and
	WHEREAS, Sam Johnson fought for his country with the utmost
	valor and has since worked with equal commitment to advance the
	interests of his constituents, and he remains to his fellow
	Texans a role model of the highest order; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th
	Legislature, hereby honor Congressman Sam Johnson for his
	lifetime of service and extend to him sincere best wishes for the
	future; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
	Congressman Johnson as an expression of high regard from the
	Texas Senate.
	Taylor of Collin
	Bettencourt Hinojosa Perry
	Birdwell Huffines Rodríguez
	Buckingham Huffman Schwertner
	Burton Hughes Seliger
	Campbell Kolkhorst Taylor of Galveston
	Creighton Lucio Uresti
	Estes Menéndez Watson
	Garcia Miles West
	Hall Nelson Whitmire
	Hancock Nichols Zaffirini
	Patrick, President of the Senate
		________________________________
		President of the Senate
		I hereby certify that the
		above Resolution was adopted by
		the Senate on April 11, 2017.
		________________________________
		Secretary of the Senate
		________________________________
		Member, Texas Senate