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        |  | R E S O L U T I O N | 
      
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        |  | WHEREAS, Texas is a large state with some of the best hunting | 
      
        |  | and fishing opportunities in the nation; fishing, hunting, | 
      
        |  | trapping, and trading of wildlife have been important activities | 
      
        |  | since the first inhabitants settled in Texas; and | 
      
        |  | WHEREAS, The state's first law protecting fish was enacted in | 
      
        |  | 1874, and in 1879 the first commission with the mission of | 
      
        |  | regulating and enforcing laws pertaining to the natural resources | 
      
        |  | was established; and | 
      
        |  | WHEREAS, Since 1895, Texas Game Wardens have built a | 
      
        |  | reputation as "can-do" peace officers with a heritage second only | 
      
        |  | to the legendary Texas Rangers; That proud tradition of service, | 
      
        |  | more than a century old, is carried on today by more than 500 men and | 
      
        |  | women who continue the work of this storied profession; and | 
      
        |  | WHEREAS, The first Game Warden Academy class in Austin was | 
      
        |  | held in 1978; cadets currently in the Academy cover a vast array of | 
      
        |  | subjects, including game and fish laws, criminal law, citation, | 
      
        |  | court procedures, defensive tactics, arrest procedures, firearms | 
      
        |  | training, hunter safety programs, environmental pollution, | 
      
        |  | saltwater and freshwater fishing operation, boating safety, and | 
      
        |  | rescue training; and | 
      
        |  | WHEREAS the 58th Texas Game Warden Cadet Class will complete | 
      
        |  | its training and be commissioned as Texas Game Wardens on August 6, | 
      
        |  | 2013; and | 
      
        |  | WHEREAS, this class consists of Mark Anderson (Tyler TX), | 
      
        |  | Samuel Anderson (Nacogdoches TX), Michael Blevins (Hempstead TX), | 
      
        |  | Joshua Bonney (Commerce TX), Roel Cantu Jr (Edinburg TX), Antonio | 
      
        |  | Chavez (Mexico), Jayme DeSchaaf (Liberty Hill TX), Travis Fountain | 
      
        |  | (Nacogdoches TX), Mark Frayser (Cibolo TX), Jason Garcia (Schertz | 
      
        |  | TX), Tommy Johnson (Wharton TX), Hsin-Wei Lin (College TX), Derrick | 
      
        |  | Lopez (Round Rock TX), Grant Moore (Jacksboro TX), John Newman | 
      
        |  | (Stephenville TX), Jake Noxon (Austin TX), Jack Pearl (Athens GA), | 
      
        |  | Howard Pierce (Rockport TX), Travis Porter (Bridgeport TX), | 
      
        |  | Jennifer Provaznik (Gautier MS), Arturo Salinas (Uvalde TX), Coby | 
      
        |  | Sanders (Amarillo TX), Jeremy Schwalk (Lubbock TX), Brendan Shoars | 
      
        |  | (Abilene TX), Justin Solis (Rockport TX), David Stokes (Nashville | 
      
        |  | TN), Zachary Temple (Lufkin TX), Thomas Colton (Pleasanton TX), and | 
      
        |  | Emily Zaunbrecher (Houston TX); and | 
      
        |  | WHEREAS, After graduation from the Game Warden Training | 
      
        |  | Academy and receiving a commission as a peace officer, these | 
      
        |  | individuals will perform responsible field enforcement duties | 
      
        |  | involving the enforcement of all provisions of the Texas Parks and | 
      
        |  | Wildlife Code, Texas Penal Code, and relevant provisions of other | 
      
        |  | Texas laws; execute and serve all criminal processes resulting from | 
      
        |  | enforcement activities; provide public safety and emergency | 
      
        |  | functions; safeguard departmental equipment; prepare reports of | 
      
        |  | activities and present programs concerning departmental activities | 
      
        |  | to the public; conduct investigations of holders of permits and | 
      
        |  | licenses issued by the department; maintain contact with holders of | 
      
        |  | permits and licenses issued by the department; maintain contact | 
      
        |  | with landowners, resource users, and the general public; and | 
      
        |  | WHEREAS, The cadets who have been selected to hold this | 
      
        |  | invaluable post have all completed a grueling and demanding | 
      
        |  | training program and will greatly contribute to the safety of Texas | 
      
        |  | residents and the preservation of the Lone Star State's natural | 
      
        |  | resources, and Texas is indeed fortunate to have to these dedicated | 
      
        |  | individuals; now, therefore, be it | 
      
        |  | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas | 
      
        |  | Legislature, 3nd Called Session, hereby congratulate the 58th Texas | 
      
        |  | Game Warden Cadet Class and extend to them sincere best wishes for | 
      
        |  | continued success in their law enforcement careers. |