TITLE: Congratulating Susan Christian on her retirement as director of the Houston Mayor's Office of Special Events.

SUMMARY: Congratulating Susan Christian on her retirement as director of the Houston Mayor's Office of Special Events.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Susan Christian retired as director of the Houston Mayor's Office of Special Events on January 17, 2025, drawing to a close an exemplary career with the city spanning nearly four decades; and WHEREAS, Ms. Christian first joined the Houston Parks and Recreation Department in 1985, and was tasked with creating MOSE in 1992; over the course of her tenure as director, she has been responsible for producing numerous local events, such as the July 4th Freedom Over Texas celebration, the H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Cigna Sunday in the Park, as well as all eight of Houston's national sports championship victory parades; under her leadership, the city serves as host to a number of national and international tournaments, including NCAA Championship, NFL Super Bowl, and FIFA World Cup games; and WHEREAS, In 2015, Ms. Christian cofounded Houston Civic Events, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating the city's talent pool through mentorship programs, workshops, and alliances with educational institutions; in addition, she has served on boards and committees for various groups, among them The Heritage Society at Sam Houston Park and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo; and WHEREAS, Ms. Christian is a graduate of Texas Christian University, where she earned her bachelor's degree; in all her endeavors, she enjoys the love and support of her partner, Laura Spanjian, as well as that of her two sons; and WHEREAS, Through her commitment to community enrichment, inclusivity, and the arts, Ms. Christian has furthered Houston's reputation as a destination for world-class events, and she may take well-deserved pride in her exceptional record of achievement as she embarks on the next exciting chapter of her life; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Susan Christian on her retirement as director of the Houston Mayor's Office of Special Events and extend to her sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Ms. Christian as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Johnson Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 138 was adopted by the House on March 31, 2025, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House