TITLE: Congratulating Melissa Hightower of Liberty Hill on her receipt of the 2014 Chuck Dennis Investigator of the Year Award.

SUMMARY: Congratulating Melissa Hightower of Liberty Hill on her receipt of the 2014 Chuck Dennis Investigator of the Year Award.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Melissa Hightower of Liberty Hill has been named the 2014 Chuck Dennis Investigator of the Year by the Texas District and County Attorneys Association; and WHEREAS, A native of Indiana, Melissa Hightower knew she wanted to go into law enforcement since she was in high school; she studied psychobiology and economics at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, and advanced through the ranks at the Opryland theme park in Nashville to become a uniformed security officer; she later moved to the Lone Star State to take a position at Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, serving as a member of the security team and as the theme park's state police liaison on criminal investigations; and WHEREAS, Dedicated to realizing her career goals, Ms. Hightower put herself through the police academy at San Antonio College and became a peace officer with the Northside Independent School District; she later received an offer of employment from the Bexar County District Attorney's Office, where she was assigned a high-profile capital murder case; in 1998, she was hired as an investigator in the Williamson County Attorney's Office, and as a result of tireless devotion to the job, she was promoted to chief investigator in 2013; and WHEREAS, Ms. Hightower is a longtime member of the Texas District and County Attorneys Association; she has twice acted as chair of the investigators section board, and she coauthored a TDCAA training manual called Case Preparation for Investigators;the association previously honored her with the Oscar Sherell Award in 2006; and WHEREAS, Through her expertise, compassion, and outstanding work ethic, Melissa Hightower has set a remarkable example of leadership to which others may aspire, and it is indeed a pleasure to recognize her many professional achievements; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Melissa Hightower on her receipt of the 2014 Chuck Dennis Investigator of the Year Award and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Melissa Hightower as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Farney Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 837 was adopted by the House on March 12, 2015, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House