84R12392 CJM-D
By: Farney H.R. No. 837
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Melissa Hightower of Liberty Hill has been named the
2014 Chuck Dennis Investigator of the Year by the Texas District and
County Attorneys Association; and
WHEREAS, A native of Indiana, Melissa Hightower knew she
wanted to go into law enforcement since she was in high school; she
studied psychobiology and economics at Centre College in Danville,
Kentucky, and advanced through the ranks at the Opryland theme park
in Nashville to become a uniformed security officer; she later
moved to the Lone Star State to take a position at Fiesta Texas in
San Antonio, serving as a member of the security team and as the
theme park's state police liaison on criminal investigations; and
WHEREAS, Dedicated to realizing her career goals,
Ms. Hightower put herself through the police academy at San Antonio
College and became a peace officer with the Northside Independent
School District; she later received an offer of employment from the
Bexar County District Attorney's Office, where she was assigned a
high-profile capital murder case; in 1998, she was hired as an
investigator in the Williamson County Attorney's Office, and as a
result of tireless devotion to the job, she was promoted to chief
investigator in 2013; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Hightower is a longtime member of the Texas
District and County Attorneys Association; she has twice acted as
chair of the investigators section board, and she coauthored a
TDCAA training manual called Case Preparation for Investigators;
the association previously honored her with the Oscar Sherell Award
in 2006; and
WHEREAS, Through her expertise, compassion, and outstanding
work ethic, Melissa Hightower has set a remarkable example of
leadership to which others may aspire, and it is indeed a pleasure
to recognize her many professional achievements; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Melissa Hightower on her receipt of
the 2014 Chuck Dennis Investigator of the Year Award and extend to
her sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; and,
be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Melissa Hightower as an expression of high regard by
the Texas House of Representatives.