TITLE: Congratulating Gil Wilson on his retirement from the Texas Department of Transportation Rail Division.

SUMMARY: Congratulating Gil Wilson on his retirement from the Texas Department of Transportation Rail Division.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Gil Wilson is retiring from the Texas Department of Transportation Rail Division in March 2019, drawing to a close an exemplary career in the railroad industry that has spanned four and a half decades; and WHEREAS, Mr. Wilson brought more than 27 years of experience in railroading to his tenure with TxDOT; beginning in 1974, he worked his way up through positions of increasing responsibility at the Republic Steel Railroad, Mahoning Valley Railway, and N&T Railway, where he served as general supervisor of maintenance and transportation for 11 years; his numerous accomplishments include testifying as an expert witness at Federal Railroad Administration hearings and serving as a workshop instructor for car repair seminars with the American Association of Railroads; and WHEREAS, In 2001, Mr. Wilson relocated to Texas and joined TxDOT as an assistant rail planner; in his most recent position as rail programs administrator, he has overseen TxDOT rail facilities and operations, played a vital role in state infrastructure inspection and analysis, and contributed to the development of the state rail plan; over the years, he has been instrumental in several rail acquisition and improvement projects and studies throughout Texas, including the development and management of more than $52 million in rehabilitation initiatives on the South Orient Rail Line, which enabled traffic to increase from approximately 2,000 carloads per year to more than 38,000 in the course of just eight years; and WHEREAS, Mr. Wilson has received a number of accolades in recognition of his outstanding service; he earned the 2010 Service and Safety State Partner Award from Amtrak, and he was a member of the TxDOT teams that garnered the 2002, 2013, and 2015 President's Transportation Awards for excellence in rail transportation from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials; and WHEREAS, Gil Wilson's dedication, professionalism, and commitment to excellence have greatly benefited his fellow Texans, and he may indeed reflect with pride on a career well spent as he embarks on the next exciting chapter of his life; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Gil Wilson on his retirement from the Rail Division of the Texas Department of Transportation 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. Wilson as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Darby Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 721 was adopted by the House on March 21, 2019, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House