| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Dr. Andy Schwartz is retiring as state veterinarian |
|
|
and executive director of the Texas Animal Health Commission in |
|
|
January 2024, drawing to a close an exceptional career with the |
|
|
agency spanning nearly three and a half decades; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Andy Schwartz grew up on his family's farm in |
|
|
Priddy; he graduated from Tarleton State University with an animal |
|
|
agriculture degree, and he earned his doctor of veterinary medicine |
|
|
degree at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and |
|
|
Biomedical Sciences; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Early in his career, Dr. Schwartz gained valuable |
|
|
experience through his work at a mixed animal practice; in May 1990, |
|
|
he embarked on his tenure with TAHC as a field veterinarian, and he |
|
|
subsequently was promoted to the titles of region director, state |
|
|
epidemiologist, and assistant executive director; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In 2016, Dr. Schwartz was named state veterinarian |
|
|
and executive director of TAHC; nationally recognized among |
|
|
regulatory veterinarians and policy makers, he has helped lead the |
|
|
effort to control such animal diseases as bovine and swine |
|
|
brucellosis and pseudorabies in commercial swine while playing a |
|
|
key role in the development and execution of response plans for a |
|
|
number of foreign animal diseases; under his direction, Texas has |
|
|
remained involved with the Scrapie Eradication and the Chronic |
|
|
Wasting Disease Management Programs, and he has guided multilevel |
|
|
responses to disease outbreaks; moreover, he helps direct the Texas |
|
|
Trichomoniasis Program, which improves the health and |
|
|
marketability of cattle; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Retirement will afford Dr. Schwartz the opportunity |
|
|
to spend more time with his family, which includes his wife, Kathy, |
|
|
and his children and grandchildren; he also helps his mother care |
|
|
for her sheep and cattle on the family farm; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A longtime leader in his field, Dr. Andy Schwartz |
|
|
has distinguished himself through his exemplary efforts in behalf |
|
|
of TAHC and the animal health and agriculture industries, and he may |
|
|
indeed reflect with pride on a job well done; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
|
|
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby congratulate Dr. Andy |
|
|
Schwartz on his retirement as state veterinarian and executive |
|
|
director of the Texas Animal Health Commission and extend to him |
|
|
sincere appreciation for his many years of outstanding service; |
|
|
and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for Dr. Schwartz as an expression of high regard by the |
|
|
Texas House of Representatives. |