82R5577 CBE-D
	By: Isaac	H.R. No. 172

	R E S O L U T I O N
	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
	TLC 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, Thurmond Benson, 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 House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
	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 Ms. Benford as an expression of high regard by the
	Texas House of Representatives.