H.R. No. 1709
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Ben De Leon of Austin has been named the 2009 Big
Brothers Big Sisters National Big Brother of the Year; and
WHEREAS, For the past three years, Mr. De Leon has been paired
with Anthony, a fifth grader at Wieland Elementary School in
Pflugerville, through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program; Mr.
De Leon has also been a spokesperson for the organization since
2007, and he is on the board of directors of the Big Society, a local
group for young professionals who are affiliated with BBBS; having
demonstrated exemplary dedication as a friend and mentor to
Anthony, Mr. De Leon was selected by the National BBBS Committee as
the Big Brother of the Year, and in June 2009, he and his "Little"
are traveling to Miami, Florida, to attend the National BBBS
Conference; and
WHEREAS, A native of the Capitol City, Mr. De Leon graduated
with highest honors from The University of Texas at Austin in 2001,
with bachelor's degrees in corporate communication and Spanish, and
he earned a juris doctor degree from The University of Texas School
of Law in 2004; the following year, he joined the firm De Leon &
Washburn, P.C., as an associate in the area of general civil
litigation, as well as appellate, insurance, transactional, and
administrative law, and he has also assisted clients through
Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas; and
WHEREAS, Despite his busy professional life and his community
service endeavors, Mr. De Leon remains actively involved with his
alma mater through the Texas Exes Council and a number of other
groups and committees; in addition, he is a member of the State Bar
of Texas and of both the state and city chapters of the Young
Lawyers Association, and he is a deacon at the First Baptist Church
of Austin; and
WHEREAS, Ben De Leon has distinguished himself as a selfless
and compassionate volunteer, and his commitment to Big Brothers Big
Sisters indeed merits special recognition; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby honor Ben De Leon on being named the 2009
National Big Brother of the Year and extend to him sincere best
wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. De Leon as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Rodriguez
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1709 was adopted by the House on May
7, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House