82R5577 CBE-D
By: Isaac H.R. No. 172
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Elissa Benford has exemplified the finest qualities
of public service for the past 20 years, and though her retirement
from the Texas Legislative Council on January 31, 2011, brings to a
close her work in state government, she will continue her work in
the community, where she has already made a lasting difference in
the lives of countless individuals; and
WHEREAS, A former banking executive, Lisa Benford joined the
TLC in 1990 as a redistricting analyst and today holds the post of
research specialist; her myriad duties have included tracking and
processing election data, training new employees, and serving as a
council liaison to the office of the Texas secretary of state and to
county election officials; in each of these areas, Lisa has earned
the respect and admiration of many for her knowledge, skill, and
exceptional dedication to customer service; and
WHEREAS, Lisa has helped innumerable Texans outside the
workplace as well through her philanthropic endeavors; in 1996, she
founded Lisa's H.O.P.E. Chest, and the nonprofit has since provided
business attire and other assistance to thousands of area residents
transitioning to employment; in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, she
was contacted by the Austin Police Department to help organize
donations, and over the course of six weeks, Lisa and others
distributed seven airplane hangars' worth of supplies to some 8,000
evacuees; she has carried out a number of significant community
projects in her native Rockdale, too, such as the establishment of a
home-ownership program and the purchase and restoration of the
town's oldest African American residence, which now hosts civic
events and offers accommodations to visiting families; Lisa was
also instrumental in securing funds to establish a park in the
town's African American community; and
WHEREAS, Lisa was honored with a Daily Point of Light Award
for all she has done to help people rebuild their lives, and in 2009
she was invited to a special forum with Presidents George H. W. Bush
and Barack Obama that celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Point
of Light program; the many other accolades bestowed on her include
the Outstanding Community Involvement Award from the State Agency
Council of the Office of the Governor, the Humanitarian and
Volunteer of the Year Awards from the Texas Department of Health and
Human Services, the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Austin Area
Urban League, and a Five Who Care Award from television station
KVUE; and
WHEREAS, Now poised to begin a new chapter in her life, Lisa
is busy charting goals for the future; her plans include
transforming the old Aycock High School in Rockdale into a
community center and teaching classes in healthy cooking to area
children; and
WHEREAS, In all her endeavors, Lisa enjoys the love and
support of her husband of 32 years, Thurmond Benson, her children,
Lucretia, Sedria, and Mark, and her grandchildren, Farrah, Brierra,
Braxton, Paris, Makala, Rachael, Zophia, Mark, and Anehi; and
WHEREAS, Lisa's coworkers at the council will sorely miss her
cheerful smile and can-do spirit, but their dismay at her departure
is somewhat tempered by the knowledge that if she can accomplish so
much toward the greater good while working full-time, her capacity
to change lives for the better is about to be magnified a hundred
times over; seldom has any retirement held such rich and joyous
promise; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby honor Lisa Benford for her exemplary service to
the people of the Lone Star State on the occasion of her retirement
from the Texas Legislative Council and extend to her sincere best
wishes for all the happiness and good fortune she so richly
deserves; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Ms. Benford as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.