Travis County Commssioners Court
October 8, 2002
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Agenda Item 3
3. Approve resolution recognizing mr. Arthur murillo's outstanding safety
record, driving skills and dedicated service to the residents of this region
as a bus operator for capital metro.
>> thank you, somewhere, I thank art -- I think arthur and
his staff are here, as well as fred gilliam or ceo for capital metro. If they
would come to the table. I will read the resolution, arthur did us proud.
Whereas each year the american public transportation association sponsors
an international bus rodeo to allow the most competent operators with the
best safety records to compete for recognition as the best in the world, whereas
arthur murillo has been a star tran busator for 19 years, with a superlative
record, won first place at past annual, and local state competitions and achieved
second place in the international bus rodeo in 1999 and whereas this year
arthur won first place at the international rodeo, overcoming an extraordinary
amount of talented competition worldwide, and whereas this significant accomplishment
illustrates arthur murillo's outstanding technical skills as well as his commitment
to safe driving habits and whereas his prestigious achievement and day to
day excellence has brought great acclaim upon himself, his wife dora and their
children bryan and jennifer and the residents of Travis County, therefore
be it resolved that we, the Travis County commissioners court, do here by
recognize mr. Arthur murillo for his outstanding safety record, driving skills
and dedicated service to the residents of Travis County. I move approval.
>> second.
>> good morning.
>> good morning.
>> good morning.
>> if I might say a few words. Good morning, judge and commissioners.
>> good morning.
>> thank you for honoring -- sure the new executive director,
aren't you.
>> yes, sir.
>> your name is.
>> fred gilliam.
>> I wanted to make sure nobody was down there masquerading
as you.
>> that's kinds of you -- kind of you. I've had the privilege
of living in this community for a year, actually my daughter has lived here
for nine years, so I have two grandchildren born here. So this is home to
me now. I guess that I'm a wannabe texan is sort of the word for it. But I
have had the privilege of working with arthur for a year. And I can tell you
he's truly a champion, but in a world -- a world champion. It's very rarely
overall in our industry that you meet someone of this character and i've personally
had the pleasure of three world champions, this is the third one, of properties
that I have worked on. So that gives me a tremendous honor just to be able
to say that. But overall, working with arthur, he's a mentor to our employees,
the resolution actually identified his exemplary record. He has with us from
safety. His attendance. And he's just an individual that -- that represents
us very well. He brings a championship to this community and in his profession,
I can tell you, it's only 16 that I'm aware that was won this previously,
that's how long it's been going on. Not that many people have achieved this.
It's -- the training for it and understanding it's 16 -- not 16, 14 different
obstacles and we are talking about fractions and inches in relationship to
how you go -- maneuver through cones, barrels, tennis balls, things like that,
so you truly have to have a skill. In a lot of cases you cannot see the obstacles
that you are trying to maneuver around. For -- for him to achieve this, it's
remarkable. And he beat his closest competition by 36 points out of a possible
650. He achieved 617. So -- so his nearest competitor he beat by 36 points,
that's just a testament overall of his skills. I thank you for that. Also
I would like to just thank you for sharing commissioner Gomez with us. She
serves on our board. I can tell you that the year that I have been with capital
metro she has represented this commission very well, the citizens of this
community. She provides positive leadership for us and direction, we thank
you for that. Arthur, would you like to say --
>> just grateful and thankful for being recognized here today.
I had no idea that I would be getting this much recognition. Excuse me. I'm
-- I'm just thrilled to be able to participate in the international level
and being able to pull it off makes it twice a nice. I'm -- I can honestly
say that I have put the city of Austin in the -- in the map in the public
transportation eyes. So I can -- I can attest to that personally. Again, I
thank you for recognizing me here today.
>> I think especially in the area of safety, driving safe
-- as safely on our roads, given the -- the number of -- of vehicles that
are on the road now, and -- but it also says that buses are extremely important
and may a huge role in -- in our -- not only the public transit, but I think
on the road getting people around to their jobs, and I -- I always hold out,
though, that not only the poorly -- will ride the buses, that at some point
all of us will get on the bus and help relieve the congestion in this community.
The other reason is for public health. This air in this area is not healthy.
I can attest to that. As soon as I leave town and I come back I get sick.
It's because of the pollution and all of the -- all of the things that are
-- our engines put into this air. I will continue pushing for you buses. Not
only because they move people around and help turn congestion, but they will
help the health of this city, in this region. Thank you. [ applause ]
>> does each patch represent another victory?
>> each patch represents the competition from previous years
and every year it's gotten -- it's held in a different city.
>> have you figured out how to wear two shirts? [ laughter
] many of them there.
>> longer sleeves. [ laughter ]
>> all in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. And we have
a beautiful proclamation for you to carry with you.
Last Modified: Wednesday, April 2, 2003 10:25 AM