TITLE: Congratulating Colonel Pete Flores on his retirement as Law Enforcement Division director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

SUMMARY: Congratulating Colonel Pete Flores on his retirement as Law Enforcement Division director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Colonel Pete Flores retired as Law Enforcement Division director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department on May 31, 2012, concluding a distinguished career in public service that spanned more than a quarter-century; and WHEREAS, A graduate of Texas A&M University, Colonel Flores completed game warden training in January 1985 and was subsequently stationed in Chambers County; he went on to work in Brazos County and then in Beaumont and San Antonio, where he served as a captain; after working as a major in San Angelo, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, and in March 2005, he became the first Hispanic colonel to lead the Law Enforcement Division; and WHEREAS, In that challenging post, Colonel Flores oversaw more than 500 game wardens in the enforcement of conservation and environmental laws, as well as in the investigation of interstate wildlife crimes; he was instrumental in expanding the division's purview to include border security duties, and he made game warden training a top priority, ensuring his staff was as prepared and equipped as possible; among his administration's biggest accomplishments was having the training campus moved from an outdated facility in Austin to a state-of-the-art building on 220 acres in Hamilton County; and WHEREAS, The Lone Star State has greatly benefited from the leadership and commitment of Pete Flores, whose high professional standards set an outstanding example for his peers in Texas and beyond, and it is a pleasure to honor him for his exceptional record of achievement; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Colonel Pete Flores on his retirement as Law Enforcement Division director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 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 Colonel Flores as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Menendez Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1825 was adopted by the House on May 8, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House