H.R. No. 160
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, After 23 years of dedicated service, Thomas H.
Muehlenbeck is retiring from his post as the city manager of Plano
on January 31, 2011; and
WHEREAS, A graduate of Lamar State College, Tom Muehlenbeck
began his career in 1965 in Parsons, Kansas, where he served as an
intern while working on his master of public administration degree
at the University of Kansas; subsequently named assistant city
manager in Parsons, he went on to hone his skills in Atchison,
Kansas, College Park and Valdosta, Georgia, Galveston, Austin, and
Virginia Beach, Virginia; and
WHEREAS, In 1987, Mr. Muehlenbeck became the city manager of
Plano, then a town of fewer than 100,000 residents; today, Plano's
population exceeds 270,000, the city employs over 1,900 people, and
the city's operating budget stands at approximately $400 million;
with such growth comes increased responsibility, and Mr.
Muehlenbeck has been more than up to the task; on his watch, Plano
became the first Texas city to be rated AAA by all three major
bond-rating agencies; in addition, many Plano city departments are
nationally accredited and are regarded as being among the very best
by peer consensus; and
WHEREAS, The high caliber of Mr. Muehlenbeck's work is also
reflected in many of the accolades that have been bestowed on Plano
over the years; one of his early goals was to have Plano designated
an All-America City by the National Civic League, a dream that was
realized in 1994; moreover, Plano has been named one of the Best
Places to Raise a Family, the Safest City in the U.S., a City With
the Highest Quality of Life, and a Top-Rated Community for
Business; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Muehlenbeck has contributed extensively to his
profession through his leadership in such organizations as the
International City/County Management Association, the Texas City
Management Association, and The Innovation Groups, a consortium of
city, town, and local governments; he has also served as an advisor
to MPA programs at both The University of Texas at Dallas and The
University of Texas at Arlington; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of his outstanding record of
accomplishment, Mr. Muehlenbeck has been accorded a National Public
Service Award from the American Society for Public Administration
and been named a Fellow by the National Academy of Public
Administration; the Thomas H. Muehlenbeck Award for Excellence in
Local Government, which is conferred by the Alliance for
Innovation, was established in his honor; and
WHEREAS, Tom Muehlenbeck and his wife, Myrtle, have two
children and several grandchildren, and his family is a continuing
source of joy and inspiration to this esteemed Texan; and
WHEREAS, Known for the integrity and vision that he brings to
all he undertakes, Tom Muehlenbeck has played an instrumental role
in enabling Plano to become the city that it is today, and he may
indeed reflect with great pride on his outstanding professional
achievements; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Thomas H. Muehlenbeck on the
occasion of his retirement as city manager of Plano and extend to
him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Muehlenbeck as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Madden
Taylor of Collin
Laubenberg
Paxton
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 160 was adopted by the House on
January 25, 2011, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House