81R11844 JH-D
By: Gonzalez Toureilles H.R. No. 770
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, In a distinguished law enforcement career that has
spanned four decades, Tommy W. Williams has provided exemplary
service as the sheriff of Atascosa County; and
WHEREAS, First elected in 1972, Sheriff Williams has been
returned to office nine times since; when his present and final term
ends in 2012, he will be the fourth-longest-serving sheriff in
Texas history, and he is already the Lone Star State's most
experienced active-duty sheriff; and
WHEREAS, This respected public servant hails from a family
that arrived in Atascosa County in 1827 and that has a long history
of law enforcement leadership in the area; his great-grandfather
served as sheriff during the Civil War and a great-uncle held the
office in the 1880s; and
WHEREAS, During the years Tommy Williams has worn the badge,
he has guided the department through a period of immense change,
with the county population more than doubling and the number of
sheriff's department employees growing from five to over 75;
despite the added complexity of his job, he has maintained his
common-sense approach to law enforcement as well as his personal
connection to the people he serves; and
WHEREAS, A familiar presence throughout the county, Sheriff
Williams knows countless residents by name and has built a
reputation for being tough but fair in his dealings with suspected
lawbreakers; and
WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, he enjoys the love and
support of his wife, Sandra, as well as his daughter and two
grandchildren; in his spare time, he raises horses and races them,
and he looks forward to spending more time on those activities after
completing his final term in office; and
WHEREAS, Tommy Williams has devoted his professional law
enforcement career to assisting and safeguarding the citizens of
Atascosa County, and he may take justifiable pride in his
longstanding record of achievement; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby honor Sheriff Tommy W. Williams for his
outstanding service to Atascosa County and extend to him sincere
best wishes for continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Sheriff Williams as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.