SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 90
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 Texas Legislative Council 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, Thurman Benford, 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 Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd
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 Lisa Benford as an expression of high regard from
the Texas Senate.
Ogden
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on January 26, 2011.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate