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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Rod Welsh concluded his tenure as the house |
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sergeant-at-arms on October 31, 2016, drawing to a close more than |
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three decades of exemplary service to the Texas House of |
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Representatives; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Fort Worth and a graduate of The |
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University of Texas, Mr. Welsh first joined the Office of the House |
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Sergeant-at-Arms for the 69th Legislature in 1985, when the chamber |
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was being guided by Speaker Gib Lewis; beginning as assistant |
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sergeant, he was mentored by Sergeant-at-Arms Ron Hinkle and by Ann |
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Harlow, who served the office in a number of capacities through the |
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years; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Welsh went on to hold the positions of |
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doorkeeper and floor supervisor, and he was first appointed as |
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sergeant-at-arms in 1993 for the 73rd Session; over the course of |
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the next quarter century, he became the longest-serving |
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sergeant-at-arms in the history of the Texas Legislature; in |
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addition to Speaker Lewis, he worked for three other speakers, Pete |
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Laney, Tom Craddick, and Joe Straus, each of whom came to rely on |
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his expertise and precise attention to detail; and |
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WHEREAS, During his time as sergeant-at-arms, Mr. Welsh was |
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responsible for maintaining order in the house chamber and meeting |
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rooms, securing the attendance of members, and assisting all house |
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officers in carrying out their administrative duties; he also |
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managed the operations of the sergeant's office, ensuring the |
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success of the day-to-day functions of the chamber; and |
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WHEREAS, Since leaving the house sergeant's office, |
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Mr. Welsh has continued to serve the Lone Star State in his new |
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position as executive director of the State Preservation Board, |
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where he oversees the preservation and maintenance of the Texas |
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Capitol and its grounds, as well as the Governor's Mansion, the |
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Texas State Cemetery, and the Bullock Texas State History Museum; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Rod Welsh's dedication, professionalism, and |
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commitment to public service greatly benefited the members of the |
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Texas House of Representatives as well as all citizens of the Lone |
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Star State, and his contributions are indeed deserving of special |
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recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Rod Welsh for his service to the Office |
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of the House Sergeant-at-Arms and extend to him sincere best wishes |
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for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Welsh as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |