TITLE: Commending Mayor Ronald E. Jones III of Garland for his public service.

SUMMARY: Commending Mayor Ronald E. Jones III of Garland for his public service.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Honorable Ronald E. Jones III is concluding his tenure as mayor of Garland in 2013, drawing to a close a distinguished record of service that has greatly benefited his fellow citizens; and WHEREAS, Ronald Jones was elected mayor of Garland in 2007, and over the course of his three consecutive terms in office, he has striven to improve the quality of life for area residents by encouraging business development, protecting the environment, and promoting community fellowship; and WHEREAS, Establishing an excellent working relationship with the city council, Mayor Jones helped pass a unanimously approved budget in 2007-2008 and again in 2010-2011; moreover, he oversaw the success of Garland's downtown and mixed-use development, introduced a temporary employment program, and welcomed new businesses; and WHEREAS, Under his leadership, the city adopted the Garland Goes Green campaign, which encourages residents to live healthier lifestyles while increasing public awareness of sustainability and conservation efforts; in addition, he launched the Good Neighbor Award, which recognizes residents and businesses that have demonstrated a commitment to improving the appearance of their property and their neighborhoods; he also hosted "Evening In" and "Evening Out" events to discuss topics of importance with his fellow citizens to broaden his accessibility and increase the transparency of city government; and WHEREAS, Over the years, Mayor Jones has been honored by many organizations for his dedicated public service; a graduate of the first Leadership Garland class, he received the Outstanding Leadership and Mark of Excellence awards from the North Texas Chapter of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators and was named Public Service Official of the Year by the Texas Public Power Association; and WHEREAS, Born and raised in Dallas, Ronald Jones attended James Madison High School and earned his bachelor's degree from Dallas Baptist University, his master's degree from Abilene Christian University, and his doctorate from Cornerstone University; before serving as mayor, he held the post of assistant city manager, and as a management consultant to the city manager, he helped set up a relief center for victims of Hurricane Katrina; in addition to serving in municipal government, he taught business at El Centro College in Dallas for 10 years and he has served in numerous capacities at New Hope Baptist Church, where he is taking on the role of senior pastor in January 2013; and WHEREAS, For 46 years, Mayor Jones has benefited from the love and support of his wife, Dr. Peggy R. Jones, and he takes great pride in their sons, Ronald and Daryl; and WHEREAS, A dedicated public servant for nearly three decades, Ronald E. Jones III has made Garland an even better place in which to live and work, and he may indeed reflect with pride on all that he has accomplished for the city; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby commend Ronald Jones III for his outstanding leadership as mayor of the City of Garland 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 Mayor Jones as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Button Burkett Johnson Sheets Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 284 was adopted by the House on February 13, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House