H.R. No. 18

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The Honorable Tom J. Vandergriff, whose name has
	become a byword in North Texas for outstanding public service and
	vigorous, visionary leadership, is retiring from the post of
	Tarrant County judge in January 2007; and
	WHEREAS, This distinguished Texan has held elective office
	for the better part of six decades; his career in government began
	with a highly regarded, 26-year tenure as mayor of Arlington, a
	tenure that coincided with one of the most transformative periods
	in that city's history; between 1951, when he was first sworn in,
	and 1977, when he concluded his final term as mayor, the population
	of Arlington soared from fewer than 8,000 inhabitants to
	approximately 120,000; and
	WHEREAS, During those years, Judge Vandergriff helped to
	facilitate the construction of the Dallas/Fort Worth International
	Airport and the elevation of Arlington State College, now The
	University of Texas at Arlington, to senior college status; he also
	worked to stimulate the region's tourism industry, notably through
	the instrumental role he played in bringing major-league baseball
	to North Texas; Judge Vandergriff persuaded the owner of the
	Washington Senators to move his club to Arlington, where the team
	took the field as the Texas Rangers; for a time after the club
	relocated, Judge Vandergriff even served as a broadcaster for the
	Rangers' games; and
	WHEREAS, Six years after retiring as mayor, Judge Vandergriff
	became the first person to represent the newly created 26th
	Congressional District in the United States House of
	Representatives, an office he held until 1985; and
	WHEREAS, Since returning to public service in 1991, Judge
	Vandergriff has continued to use his formidable skills and
	experience to help address the challenges and opportunities facing
	his community; the scope of efforts undertaken by the county
	commissioners court under his guidance is reflected in several
	recent achievements; in December 2005, Tarrant County implemented
	an expanded, online tax-payment system that subsequently won the
	county an Excellence Award from the Texas Association of
	Governmental Information Technology Managers; the year 2005 also
	saw the opening of a $41 million Family Law Center and the
	commencement of work to clear the site for the new Dallas Cowboys
	stadium; and
	WHEREAS, Widely respected both in and out of government
	circles, Judge Vandergriff served as founding president of the
	North Central Texas Council of Governments, as the first chair of
	the Texas Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, and
	as a member of a White House Commission on Urban Problems; he has
	also been named Citizen of the Year in Arlington, Dallas, and Fort
	Worth; and
	WHEREAS, Born and raised in Carrollton, Tom Vandergriff holds
	a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California; in
	addition to his achievements as a public servant, he has enjoyed
	notable success as a businessman in the private sector, where his
	interests have included a car dealership and an insurance agency;
	and
	WHEREAS, Throughout his long and illustrious career, Tom
	Vandergriff has worked tirelessly to advance the common good, and
	the tremendous dedication and energy he has brought to his offices
	of public trust have justly made him a Tarrant County legend; now,
	therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas
	Legislature hereby recognize the Honorable Tom J. Vandergriff on
	the occasion of his retirement as Tarrant County judge and extend to
	him deepest appreciation for the example and legacy of his
	outstanding public service; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
	prepared for Judge Vandergriff as an expression of high regard by
	the Texas House of Representatives.
	Smith of Tarrant
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 18 was adopted by the House on May 4,
	2007, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House