TITLE: Recognizing Blaine Smith for his contributions to people with hearing impairment.

SUMMARY: Recognizing Blaine Smith for his contributions to people with hearing impairment.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pleasure in recognizing Blaine Smith, who for 32 years has been a hearing specialist in the Lone Star State; and WHEREAS, An outstanding caregiver and a respected advocate of the underserved, Mr. Smith is a nationally certified audioprosthologist; for many years, he has provided exemplary care through Advanced Hearing and Communications in San Antonio; and WHEREAS, Mr. Smith also founded the charity program Vaqueros del Oido, the Hearing Cowboys; he and his fellow volunteers have traveled throughout the United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean and have provided thousands of persons with free care and with hearing aids; for this work, the Hearing Cowboys group has received the President's Points of Light Award; and WHEREAS, Mr. Smith also played a pivotal role in establishing mandatory hearing screenings for newborns in Texas, and he is a dedicated member of the board of directors of Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children; and WHEREAS, For more than three decades, Mr. Blaine Smith has been a leading figure in the advancement of better care for the hearing-impaired in Texas, and he is indeed deserving of recognition; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd Legislature, hereby commend Blaine Smith for his contributions to improving the quality of life of people with hearing impairments; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for him as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. Lucio President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 25, 2013.