H.R. No. 630
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The members of the Texas House of Representatives
    1-2  take special pleasure in welcoming to the State Capitol our former
    1-3  colleague, the Honorable Thomas D. DeLay, who last year was elected
    1-4  to serve as majority whip in the United States House of
    1-5  Representatives; and
    1-6        WHEREAS,  Born in Laredo on April 8, 1947, this exceptional
    1-7  Texan spent most of his childhood in Venezuela, where his father
    1-8  worked as an oil drilling contractor; following his family's return
    1-9  to the Lone Star State, he was graduated from Calallan High School
   1-10  in Corpus Christi and attended Baylor University before receiving
   1-11  his bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Houston
   1-12  in 1970; and
   1-13        WHEREAS, Three years later, this fine gentleman put this
   1-14  degree to good use by becoming the owner of a pest extermination
   1-15  company in Houston; his experiences as a small business owner soon
   1-16  convinced him to take an active role in creating a government more
   1-17  conducive to economic growth and development, and before long he
   1-18  found himself serving as precinct chairman of Fort Bend County; and
   1-19        WHEREAS, At the suggestion of his friends, he decided to set
   1-20  his political sights a bit higher, and in 1978 won election to the
   1-21  Texas House of Representatives, becoming the first Republican ever
   1-22  elected from Fort Bend County; and
   1-23        WHEREAS, A member of the 66th, 67th, and 68th legislatures,
   1-24  this outstanding lawmaker represented his constituents in Districts
    2-1  21 and 26 with integrity and distinction, and his exemplary
    2-2  achievements during this Austin tenure include serving as vice
    2-3  chairman for the house administration and the business and industry
    2-4  committees; and
    2-5        WHEREAS, Winning election in 1984 to the United States House
    2-6  of Representatives, he quickly achieved national prominence as one
    2-7  of the most outspoken and articulate members of the Grand Old
    2-8  Party; Congressman DeLay served as chairman of the Republican Study
    2-9  Committee, an important research organization, and later as
   2-10  secretary of the House Republican Conference; and
   2-11        WHEREAS, In 1994, this esteemed Texan was named house
   2-12  majority whip, a designation that has brought great honor and
   2-13  influence to the Lone Star State; now, more than 15 years after
   2-14  beginning his career in public service, he continues to display the
   2-15  courage and determination that has won him the admiration and
   2-16  respect of both his constituents and his peers; and
   2-17        WHEREAS, Today, as Congressman DeLay pays a visit to his old
   2-18  stomping grounds, it is indeed appropriate that he receive an
   2-19  official welcome from the Texas House of Representatives; now,
   2-20  therefore, be it
   2-21        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-22  Legislature hereby welcome the Honorable Tom DeLay and extend to
   2-23  him best wishes for an enjoyable visit to the State Capitol; and,
   2-24  be it further
   2-25        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-26  prepared for Congressman DeLay as an expression of high esteem from
   2-27  his former colleagues.