H.R. No. 2117 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, Dorothy Khoury of Longview has distinguished herself as an active volunteer and as chair of the Gregg County Republican Party; and WHEREAS, Mrs. Khoury was born in Kingston, Pennsylvania, and was raised in Virginia and Florida; she moved to Texas in 1961, following her marriage to Longview native Alvin Khoury, who is now a retired senior district judge; the couple have enjoyed nearly five decades together, and they have been blessed with two sons, Sam and Andy; and WHEREAS, Active in local politics, Mrs. Khoury served two terms as president of Gregg County Republican Women, and during her tenure, the group was recognized as one of the top clubs by both the national and state Republican women's organizations; in addition, Mrs. Khoury was named a "Woman of Distinction" by the Texas Federation of Republican Women at the state convention in 2000; and WHEREAS, On her election as chair of the Gregg County Republican Party, Mrs. Khoury became the first woman in county history to lead a political party, and she held the position from 2002 through 2008; under her skilled leadership, the organization flourished, and its candidates gained every countywide and nonjudicial district office and more precinct offices than ever before; the Gregg County GOP also saw its first Hispanic and African American officials, as well as the first U.S. Representative from the county; in addition to contributing to the group's success, Mrs. Khoury set fund-raising records and increased voter turnout and participation in conventions, and she was a member of the Texas Republican County Chairmen's Association and of various executive committees; and WHEREAS, Mrs. Khoury has further devoted her time to numerous local groups, including the Rotary Club of Longview, Longview Community Theatre, and the Longview Federated Women's Clubs, and she is on the boards of Community Healthcore and the Gregg County Historical Foundation; she is also a past president of the Greenbriar Garden Club and the Gregg County Bar Auxiliary, and she received the Distinguished Docent of the Year designation from the Gregg County Historical Museum; and WHEREAS, A generous civic leader, Dorothy Khoury has garnered the lasting respect and appreciation of her fellow residents, and she may indeed reflect with pride on the positive impact she has had on Gregg County; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas Legislature hereby honor Dorothy Khoury for her service to the Gregg County Republican Party and her outstanding community involvement and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued happiness; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mrs. Khoury as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Merritt Hughes ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 2117 was adopted by the House on May 21, 2009, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House