85R19768 JGH-D
By: Murphy H.R. No. 1198
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, For many years, James and Leeshan Chuang Birney of
Stone Mountain Properties have distinguished themselves through
their success as entrepreneurs and as civic leaders in the Houston
area; and
WHEREAS, After graduating from National Taiwan Normal
University, Leeshan Chuang Birney earned a master's degree in
business administration from New York University and then founded
the Stone Mountain Properties real estate company; James Birney
earned his MBA from NYU as well, and he enjoyed a long and
successful career on Wall Street as a founding partner of Furman,
Selz, Mager, Dietz, and Birney, a brokerage and investment firm,
before joining his wife in the family real estate business; in the
decades Mr. and Mrs. Birney have worked together at Stone Mountain
Properties, they have developed projects in Houston and New Jersey
and built a portfolio worth more than $100 million; and
WHEREAS, Throughout their careers, the Birneys have also
given generously of their time and resources to a wide variety of
institutions and community organizations; among the entities to
benefit from their efforts are the Houston Housing Finance
Corporation, the Asian American Business Council of the Asian
Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese Community Center, the Global
Federation of Chinese Business Women, the Planning Board of the
City of Houston, and the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce; and
WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Birney are also supporters of the
Chinese American Relief Effort and the Joint Chinese College Alumni
Association, which has named a music scholarship in their honor; in
addition, they have provided funds for innumerable programs for
disadvantaged young people, the elderly, and the disabled, and they
actively promote leisure learning, literary seminars, arts
exhibitions, and concerts; and
WHEREAS, The couple's many honors include the Outstanding
Chinese Entrepreneur Award from Chinese21.com, the ILF Regional
Leadership Award, the Hua Kuan Award from the Global Federation of
Chinese Business Women, the Yellow Rose of Texas award from the
governor of Texas, the Corporate Impact Award from the Chinese
Professional Club, and the President's Volunteer Service Award from
President Barack Obama; and
WHEREAS, James and Leeshan Birney have furthered the
prosperity and well-being of the Houston area through their
business and philanthropic endeavors, and they are truly deserving
of special recognition; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate James and Leeshan Chuang Birney on
the success of Stone Mountain Properties and commend them for their
many years of community service and charitable giving; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. and Mrs. Birney as an expression of high regard by
the Texas House of Representatives.