H.R. No. 1697
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Houston native Dru Torian has exhibited a lifelong
devotion to the sport of tennis and has distinguished herself
through her notable achievements in tournament competition; and
WHEREAS, Born on February 14, 1978, she began hitting tennis
balls when she was just three years old, using a customized racquet
that had been cut down to fit her; at the age of six, she began
lessons at the Houston Racquet Club, which was next door to her
house, and honed her skills under the direction of the club's
instructors; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Torian gained early experience in competitive
tennis as a member of the Memorial Mustang tennis team and won
numerous tournaments in Texas as a junior player; during high
school, she was a student at the Purnell School in Pottersville, New
Jersey, and became the No. 1 seed on the tennis team; in 1994 and
1995, she was a state finalist, and in 1995, she reached the
semifinals and earned the Purnell Coaches Award; her years at
Purnell also introduced her to theater; she performed in the
school's annual play during her junior and senior years and also
appeared in two productions at Houston Community College; and
WHEREAS, Moving on to college level tennis, she was a member
of the team at Tyler Junior College and contributed to the Apaches'
junior college national championship in 1998; her outstanding play
that season also ranked her in the top 60 among women's singles
players in the nation; this skilled athlete further competed in
NCAA Division 2 matches as part of the team at Lees-McRae College in
North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Torian's career has continued past her college
years, and she ranked among the top five in singles for women's open
players in Texas during the 2000-2001 season; a member of the United
States Professional Tennis Association since 2001, she has shared
her expertise with others as a tennis pro at the Houston Racquet
Club and Riverhill Country Club in Kerrville while maintaining her
focus on tournament competition; in 2008, she was recognized by the
United States Professional Tennis Association as its Women's Open
Player of the Year; and
WHEREAS, Away from the court, Ms. Torian is pursuing a degree
in exercise science at Schreiner University; moreover, she has
devoted herself to working with young people with special needs,
serving as a mentor to abused children in Kerrville and Austin and
assisting mentally disabled youth in Houston; and
WHEREAS, This dedicated athlete has spent countless hours
developing her skills on the court and striving to perform at the
peak of her abilities, and her determination and commitment to
excellence are an inspiration to all who know her; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby honor Dru Torian for her achievements in
competitive tennis and extend to her sincere best wishes for
continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Ms. Torian as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Woolley
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1697 was adopted by the House on May
4, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House