SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 414
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
honor Von William Byer, committee director of the Senate
Committee on Education, for his 10 years of outstanding service
with Senator Florence Shapiro; and
WHEREAS, A native of Kansas and proud graduate of the
University of Kansas, Von Byer saw the light and moved to Texas,
earning a law degree from The University of Texas School of Law in
1998; and
WHEREAS, He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1998
and began working with Senator Shapiro in 1999 when she was chair
of the Committee on State Affairs; he was a policy analyst for the
committee and became one of the senator's primary advisors on
constitutional reform, campaign finance laws, transportation,
and bonding issues; and
WHEREAS, He became general counsel for Senator Shapiro's
office and subsequently general counsel of the Senate Committee
on Education when the senator was appointed education committee
chair for the 78th Legislature in 2003; quickly learning the
intricacies of the complex and sometimes baffling topic of school
finance, he helped the senator and her 30 colleagues pass a
school finance bill by a vote of 31-0 in the Senate; and
WHEREAS, Von has served as director of the Senate Committee
on Education since November of 2003; he has survived four special
sessions on school finance and has more than proved his mettle in
the fast-paced environment of the legislature; while his
specialty is school finance, Von ultimately holds responsibility
for all issues before the committee; and
WHEREAS, A man of many interests, Von is a student of the
Austrian school of economics and a fervent proponent of
individual liberty; he is a trusted advisor, mentor, and friend
to his colleagues and an invaluable asset to the Texas Senate;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st
Legislature, hereby commend Von William Byer for his exemplary
service with the Texas Senate and Senator Florence Shapiro and
extend to him best wishes for the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
him as an expression of highest regard from the Texas Senate.
Shapiro
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on March 10, 2009.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate