H.R. No. 974
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, Our esteemed colleague, the Honorable Gilbert Serna,
    1-2  celebrates his birthday on May 17, 1995, and it gives the members
    1-3  of this chamber great pleasure to recognize him on this auspicious
    1-4  occasion; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, A longtime resident of El Paso, Representative Serna
    1-6  is committed to increasing health, housing, educational, and social
    1-7  services to the Lower Valley residents of El Paso County; known
    1-8  throughout that county for his community service and civic
    1-9  leadership, he also enjoyed a multifaceted career before earning
   1-10  election to the District 75 seat in the Texas House of
   1-11  Representatives; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, Representative Serna is a graduate of The University
   1-13  of Texas at El Paso, and he has furthered his education by pursuing
   1-14  dual master's degrees in human resources development and management
   1-15  at Webster University; and
   1-16        WHEREAS, His commitment to higher education is also apparent
   1-17  in his distinguished record of service to community colleges; a
   1-18  trustee of El Paso Community College for nearly 10 years,
   1-19  Representative Serna served as vice chairman of that college's
   1-20  board and is a consultant for International Educational Linkages
   1-21  for Community Colleges; and
   1-22        WHEREAS, Deeply concerned about the economic and social
   1-23  fabric of his community as well, this dedicated public leader has
   1-24  devoted much of his time to the El Paso Lower Valley Development
    2-1  Corporation, a nonprofit organization that seeks to revitalize the
    2-2  Lower Valley area of El Paso County by creating employment
    2-3  opportunities and refurbishing or removing vacant buildings; and
    2-4        WHEREAS, In addition, Representative Serna has worked for the
    2-5  betterment of the El Paso community as a member of the Kiwanis
    2-6  Club, the El Paso Mayor's Round Table on Hispanic Issues, the Youth
    2-7  Leadership Conference, and the Mt. Carmel Holy Name Society; he has
    2-8  also brought his considerable experience and expertise to
    2-9  leadership positions with the boards of Project Bravo and Project
   2-10  Amistad; and
   2-11        WHEREAS, In recognition of his many selfless contributions,
   2-12  Representative Serna has been honored with awards from the Texas
   2-13  Youth Commission, Kiwanis International, and the Association of
   2-14  Community College Trustees, and his dedicated service on behalf of
   2-15  the Democratic Party earned him induction into the party's hall of
   2-16  fame in 1991; and
   2-17        WHEREAS, Representative Serna has already made numerous
   2-18  contributions to the work of this chamber, and it is indeed a
   2-19  privilege to join with the citizens of El Paso in honoring him on
   2-20  his special day; now, therefore, be it
   2-21        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-22  Legislature hereby congratulate the Honorable Gilbert Serna on the
   2-23  occasion of his birthday and extend to him warmest best wishes for
   2-24  many more years of success and happiness; and, be it further
   2-25        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-26  prepared for Representative Serna as an expression of high regard
   2-27  by the Texas House of Representatives.