Bill Text: TX HR154 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 3rd Special Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing Dr. Thomas Pruett of Lake Jackson for his mission work and community service.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2021-10-26 - Reported enrolled [HR154 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HR154-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 154 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Dr. Thomas William Pruett of Lake Jackson is being | ||
| honored for his many years of mission work and community service at | ||
| an event hosted by the Rotary Club of Brazosport on October 16, | ||
| 2021; and | ||
| WHEREAS, An alumnus of the Schreiner Institute in Kerrville | ||
| and Texas Tech University, Tom Pruett graduated with honors as a | ||
| member of the inaugural class of the College of Optometry at the | ||
| University of Houston in 1955; he subsequently settled in Lake | ||
| Jackson, and in 1981, he organized his first eye clinic in Juarez, | ||
| Mexico, which was sponsored by the First United Methodist Church; | ||
| he continued to conduct similar work until 1985, when a $160,000 | ||
| grant from Rotary International enabled the expansion of the | ||
| clinics to the entire state of Chihuahua; additionally, another | ||
| grant funded the construction of a permanent facility in Guerrero, | ||
| a site that remains in operation today and provides a significant | ||
| portion of indigent health care for the region; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Dr. Pruett has gone on to complete 111 mission trips | ||
| to Mexico over the past four decades, during which time he has | ||
| performed more than 10,000 eye exams, prescribed and fitted over | ||
| 10,000 pairs of glasses, and inspired the efforts of the more than | ||
| 500 volunteers who have joined the initiative; the clinics in | ||
| Mexico provide over $5 million in free medical treatment each year | ||
| in the areas of general medicine, dentistry, gynecology, and | ||
| plastic surgery, in addition to eye care and surgery; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Admired for his civic engagement, Dr. Pruett has | ||
| been recognized as the Brazosport Outstanding Man of the Year and | ||
| was the first recipient of the Rotary International Service Above | ||
| Self Award; among his many other accolades, he has been honored with | ||
| the Distinguished Achievement Award from the American Public Health | ||
| Association and the Community Builder Award from Lake Jackson | ||
| Masonic Lodge No. 1317; for nearly six decades, Dr. Pruett enjoyed | ||
| the love and support of his wife, the late Carolyn Pruett, and today | ||
| he takes great pride in his two children, Tamara and Thomas, and his | ||
| grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Through his compassion, generosity, and tremendous | ||
| dedication, Tom Pruett has made a positive difference in the lives | ||
| of innumerable people, and his outstanding contributions will | ||
| continue to resonate in the years to come; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas | ||
| Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby commend Dr. Thomas Pruett | ||
| for his many years of community service and extend to him sincere | ||
| best wishes for the future; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for Dr. Pruett as an expression of high regard by the Texas | ||
| House of Representatives. | ||
| Vasut | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 154 was adopted by the House on | ||
| October 18, 2021, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
