TITLE: Congratulating Thomas H. Muehlenbeck on the occasion of his retirement as city manager of Plano.

SUMMARY: Congratulating Thomas H. Muehlenbeck on the occasion of his retirement as city manager of Plano.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, After 23 years of dedicated service, Thomas H. Muehlenbeck is retiring from his post as the city manager of Plano on January 31, 2011; and WHEREAS, A graduate of Lamar State College, Tom Muehlenbeck began his career in 1965 in Parsons, Kansas, where he served as an intern while working on his master of public administration degree at the University of Kansas; subsequently named assistant city manager in Parsons, he went on to hone his skills in Atchison, Kansas, College Park and Valdosta, Georgia, Galveston, Austin, and Virginia Beach, Virginia; and WHEREAS, In 1987, Mr. Muehlenbeck became the city manager of Plano, then a town of fewer than 100,000 residents; today, Plano's population exceeds 270,000, the city employs over 1,900 people, and the city's operating budget stands at approximately $400 million; with such growth comes increased responsibility, and Mr. Muehlenbeck has been more than up to the task; on his watch, Plano became the first Texas city to be rated AAA by all three major bond-rating agencies; in addition, many Plano city departments are nationally accredited and are regarded as being among the very best by peer consensus; and WHEREAS, The high caliber of Mr. Muehlenbeck's work is also reflected in many of the accolades that have been bestowed on Plano over the years; one of his early goals was to have Plano designated an All-America City by the National Civic League, a dream that was realized in 1994; moreover, Plano has been named one of the Best Places to Raise a Family, the Safest City in the U.S., a City With the Highest Quality of Life, and a Top-Rated Community for Business; and WHEREAS, Mr. Muehlenbeck has contributed extensively to his profession through his leadership in such organizations as the International City/County Management Association, the Texas City Management Association, and The Innovation Groups, a consortium of city, town, and local governments; he has also served as an advisor to MPA programs at both The University of Texas at Dallas and The University of Texas at Arlington; and WHEREAS, In recognition of his outstanding record of accomplishment, Mr. Muehlenbeck has been accorded a National Public Service Award from the American Society for Public Administration and been named a Fellow by the National Academy of Public Administration; the Thomas H. Muehlenbeck Award for Excellence in Local Government, which is conferred by the Alliance for Innovation, was established in his honor; and WHEREAS, Tom Muehlenbeck and his wife, Myrtle, have two children and several grandchildren, and his family is a continuing source of joy and inspiration to this esteemed Texan; and WHEREAS, Known for the integrity and vision that he brings to all he undertakes, Tom Muehlenbeck has played an instrumental role in enabling Plano to become the city that it is today, and he may indeed reflect with great pride on his outstanding professional achievements; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Thomas H. Muehlenbeck on the occasion of his retirement as city manager of Plano 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. Muehlenbeck as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Madden Taylor of Collin Laubenberg Paxton Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 160 was adopted by the House on January 25, 2011, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House