SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 561

WHEREAS, Tommy Wayne Engelke is retiring as executive vice president of the Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council on June 30, 2023, drawing to a close an exceptional career with the organization that has spanned 34 years; and

WHEREAS, Raised on a Kingsbury-area farm, Tommy Engelke participated in livestock shows as a youth and graduated from Luling High School, where he was FFA president and a member of the state's top FFA dairy cattle judging team; he was also president of the FFA Work Experience Abroad program; continuing his education at Texas A&M University, he earned an agronomy degree and a master's degree in agricultural communications and was national student president of the Soil Conservation Society of America; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Engelke became a trainee for the Soil Conservation Service in Seguin in 1974 and in Gonzales the following year, and he went on to join the Rice Council for market development in Houston; in 1977, he joined Texas Farm Credit, working for CoBank and then the Farm Credit Bank of Texas; and

WHEREAS, In 1989, Mr. Engelke launched his career with the Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council, serving as associate vice president before assuming the role of executive vice president in 1996; traveling some 32,000 miles every year, he makes field contacts with member organizations, speaks to groups, and facilitates business planning exercises; he further contributes to his professional community as a Certified Crop Adviser board member and as a former president of the National Conference of State Cooperative Councils and Professional Agricultural Workers of Texas; he has also served as chair of the Texas Agriculture Council and the Texas Workforce Commission Agricultural Services Advisory Council; and

WHEREAS, Tommy Engelke's leadership, dedication, and expertise have greatly benefited his fellow Texans, and he may indeed reflect with pride on his many achievements as he embarks on the next exciting chapter of his life; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th Legislature, hereby congratulate Tommy Wayne Engelke on his retirement as executive vice president of the Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared for Mr. Engelke as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.

Perry

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 12, 2023.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate