H.R. No. 1145
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Through his innovation and philanthropy, Graham
Weston is helping to make San Antonio an even better place in which
to live and work; and
WHEREAS, Born and raised in the area, Mr. Weston has been an
entrepreneur since seventh grade, when he formed a business
marketing organic pork; he continued creating new ventures during
high school and later as a student at Texas A&M University; after
graduating, he entered the real estate market, and at the age of 28,
he led a group of investors to acquire and develop a 30-story office
building in downtown San Antonio; now known as the Weston Centre,
the property houses some of the city's best-known companies; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Weston and a partner later provided the original
capital for a business idea pitched by three Trinity University
students; the resulting company, Rackspace, hosts computing and
cloud computing services and has become a global leader in the
industry; as the former CEO and current chairman, Mr. Weston has
overseen Rackspace's growth in the Alamo City, where today it
employs more than 4,000 people; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan is also involved in numerous
projects to revitalize the city's urban core; he is one of the
tri-chairs of the SA2020 community process, a long-term planning
initiative to address education, transportation, and downtown
development issues in the city, and he cofounded Geekdom, a
workspace where technologists, developers, entrepreneurs, and
creative thinkers collaborate to build new businesses; and
WHEREAS, Equally admired for his philanthropy, Mr. Weston
converted one of his vacant properties into a temporary shelter for
more than 2,500 refugees of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; moreover,
he and Rackspace employees have donated $2 million in grants toward
improving local schools, providing supplies, and funding mentoring
programs, including SparkEd, a series of weekend camps for seventh
and eighth graders focused on technology and entrepreneurialism;
and
WHEREAS, Mr. Weston is the recipient of many honors, among
them the 2011 International Citizen of the Year Award from the World
Affairs Council of San Antonio and the 2011 Conn Family
Entrepreneurial Leadership Award; in addition, he was selected as
Regional Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young and named a "Best
Boss" by Fortune Small Business magazine; and
WHEREAS, Graham Weston's enthusiasm, drive, and dedication
to the city he's proud to call home have immeasurably benefited his
fellow residents, and he is an inspiration to future leaders
throughout the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby honor Graham Weston for his outstanding
contributions to San Antonio 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 Mr. Weston as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Martinez Fischer
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1145 was adopted by the House on April
10, 2013, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House