| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 136 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, Steve D. Walthour retired as general manager of the |
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| 6 | 6 | | North Plains Groundwater Conservation District on October 1, 2023, |
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| 7 | 7 | | concluding more than 16 years of dedicated public service; and |
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| 8 | 8 | | WHEREAS, Hired to his position in May 2007, Mr. Walthour has |
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| 9 | 9 | | utilized his expertise as a geoscientist to guide the district in |
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| 10 | 10 | | its mission to protect and conserve groundwater resources in an |
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| 11 | 11 | | eight-county area of the Texas Panhandle; under his leadership, the |
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| 12 | 12 | | district has developed outstanding conservation programs and |
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| 13 | 13 | | educational resources, which include Master Irrigator Program |
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| 14 | 14 | | classes and educational events and initiatives for youth and other |
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| 15 | 15 | | members of the public; and |
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| 16 | 16 | | WHEREAS, One of the major highlights of Mr. Walthour's tenure |
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| 17 | 17 | | was the opening of the district's North Plains Water Conservation |
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| 18 | 18 | | Center in 2014; the center is engaged in scientific research on how |
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| 19 | 19 | | to successfully cultivate crops such as corn with lower water |
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| 20 | 20 | | requirements; in June 2018, the center welcomed visitors from the |
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| 21 | 21 | | Texas House of Representatives, including members of the House |
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| 22 | 22 | | Natural Resources Committee; and |
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| 23 | 23 | | WHEREAS, A registered professional geoscientist, |
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| 24 | 24 | | Mr. Walthour earned bachelor's and master's degrees in geology from |
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| 25 | 25 | | the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville; throughout his |
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| 26 | 26 | | 40-year-long career, he has led teams of professionals in the |
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| 27 | 27 | | development of groundwater management programs using a variety of |
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| 28 | 28 | | well-researched practices, and he has held such positions as field |
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| 29 | 29 | | geologist, regional subsurface geologist, senior hydrogeologist, |
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| 30 | 30 | | and hazardous materials response team manager; moreover, he has |
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| 31 | 31 | | served as an international technical consultant on a range of |
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| 32 | 32 | | topics, including hydrogeology, groundwater availability, |
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| 33 | 33 | | permitting, and water rights litigation; and |
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| 34 | 34 | | WHEREAS, Steve Walthour's exceptional knowledge, leadership, |
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| 35 | 35 | | and professionalism have greatly benefited the North Plains |
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| 36 | 36 | | Groundwater Conservation District and the Texans it has served, and |
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| 37 | 37 | | his achievements will be remembered and admired for many years to |
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| 38 | 38 | | come; now, therefore, be it |
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| 39 | 39 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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| 40 | 40 | | Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby congratulate Steve |
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| 41 | 41 | | D. Walthour on his retirement as general manager of the North |
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| 42 | 42 | | Plains Groundwater Conservation District and extend to him sincere |
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| 43 | 43 | | best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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| 44 | 44 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 45 | 45 | | prepared for Mr. Walthour as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 46 | 46 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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| 47 | 47 | | Price |
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| 48 | 48 | | ______________________________ |
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| 49 | 49 | | Speaker of the House |
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| 50 | 50 | | I certify that H.R. No. 136 was adopted by the House on |
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| 51 | 51 | | November 1, 2023, by a non-record vote. |
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| 52 | 52 | | ______________________________ |
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| 53 | 53 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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