Travis County Commissioners Court
January 17, 2006
Item 3
Number 3 is to approve resolutioning recognizing frank o. Holder, jr. On his retirement from the Travis County purchasing office. Cyd, would you like to read the resolution --
>> I would be honored, judge, if you would read it for us.
>> it reads whereas frank o. Holder, junior, is recognized among his colleagues and in the business community as a seasoned veteran, in the purchasing profession, committed to serving the taxpayers of Travis County, by getting the best value on every purchase that comes across his desk, whereas frank always takes pride in helping Travis County departments to obtain the goods and services necessary for continued operation, dedicating himself to precision and efficiency, for those who rely upon him, whereas frank manages his employees with honor, integrity, veracity and can dorks whereas frank served proudly in the united states air force preparing himself to serve as a diligent and faithful colonel to the purchasing officer general cyd grimes, wras frank is always the first to arrive in the office at 0 dark 30:00 a.m., showing his exceptional work ethic and commitment, whereas frank despite their recent football record [laughter] remains a die hard maroon blooded a&m aggies and a good sportsman towards the burnt orange fans, whereas everything on frank's desk is always neatly stacked and aligned period perpendicularly -- we could use frank in my office [laughter], whereas's frank's ritual of religiously washing his coffee pot at exactly the same time every afternoon is a ritual that is most admirably consistent and equally scary [laughter]; whereas frank's absence from the purchasing office will leave a void of spirituality, good heartedness and professionally, tears, character, embody the old adages, respect is earned, not a gift and hard work really does pay off, therefore be it resolved that the Travis County Commissioners court of the great state of Texas, greatly recognize the -- the -- recognizes the outstanding contributions of frank o. Holder, junior, for his years of superior service to Travis County and extend to him best wishes for god's speed and success in all of his future endeavors. I move approval.
>> amen. [laughter]
>> thank you, judge, Commissioners. With us today at the table of course is frank, his pastor, mr. Dil schultz, shyra his daughter and his wife, sharon. Frank does have a son, but he could not make it, but he will be here on Friday. We are going to have a reception on Friday from -- from 2:00 to 4:00, that we would like everyone to come that's here in this room. Today is one of those days that you -- it's sort of surreal for me. You sort of think about this day coming and you think about it, you think how it's going to be, one day it's here. 10 years have gone by and you look back, and for me, frank's been a blessing. Frank was very experienced when he came 10 years ago, he had been in the air force and retired from the air force. I was very green. I really believe that he was a blessing. He was here to help me get through all of this. Without frank's leadership, enintegrety, knowledge, we would never have accomplished what we have in the past 10 years. Frank as you can tell is honored by all of the employees, we all wore maroon today in his honor. And of course I had an orange jacket on this morning. That's the kind of relationship that frank and I have had over the years, sort of back and forth. Frank gave me a book a long time ago, he went through a lot of times, difficult times in my life, personal times and he gave me this book. He doesn't think that I have read it, but I have. And there's just a couple of lines that I would like to read that -- that sum up frank for me. Integrity, the integrity of the upright guides them. Integrity is being what I claim to be, and doing what I promise to do. A great leader must demonstrate personal integrity. Frank has always done that. The board. God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. If god has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility serious. Frank has always been serious. Even though he can joke around and be funny and our memory of -- I remember laying down on the floor one day, acting dead, going what are you doing, I knew then he was a stereotypical aggie. But frank has always -- in his personal or professional has always shown integrity. The last one that really makes my office the great place to be and to work is the love that we all share for each other. Let us continue to love one another, from love -- from love comes from god. For love comes from god. And says no one should support or follow a leader who does not truly love him. No one should attempt to leave people he does not care about. Frank's cared about all of us, he has shown that in his professional extensions to us, mentoring us, coaching us and on a personal level. He will truly be missed and I知 -- I am -- I will always be grateful, frank.
>> any other comments?
>> I think all of y'all. I know you all are going to miss frank, too. You all come say goodbye to him on Friday along with everybody else in the county. [ applause ]
>> when I asked for -- as you know when I said any other comments, I was looking out, I wasn't looking at court members. I know court members will have something to say [laughter]
>> I just thank you, frank, it's really good to -- to have -- to have folks who are committed to -- to working for the taxpayers. That is something that we can't forget as we -- that's kind of -- that kind of enables us to do our job well and to do it with integrity and commitment. So thank you so much.
>> thank you, Commissioners.
>> you have until Friday afternoon to change your mind. That's what -- owe that's -- once we drink punch and eat cookies with us, that's pretty much the dead line.
>> judge, I知 going to weigh in on this as well. Frank you and I have been here practically the same length of time. And I was so impressed when I got here at Travis County to find an incredible team of professionals that had already been built and your addition, one year into my tenure, just spoke loudly in terms of quality and professionals that we have built in our purchasing office. We have been through a lot. I so appreciate your hands and for today only you're number one! [ applause ] [laughter] that's hard to do knowing how I bleed orange. I think the world of you, we are going to miss you, you better leave us your phone number in case we have questions. Thank you so much.
>> thank you.
>> I would like to say this to you, I have been here a number of years, also. And believe me, we've had our challenges dealing with the public to ensure that we provide a good purchasing mechanism to ensure that the progress that we get is in the best interests of Travis County. I think that you have -- you have appeared to me have always diligently held on to that type of goal. But not only that, we have -- we have continued to struggle in an effort to ensure that the h.u.b. Program that we have in place can be made better than what it is. And I think that you have been a part of that team and as we strive toward perfection as far as getting that h.u.b. Program the way it should be, I think that you are going to be a missing link in that particular program. But I understand that there is someone coming up hyped you that is just as -- behind you that is just as good and really just as dedicated as you are and have been in trying to achieve these -- these goals as far as minority participation in the hub process, which -- which we have embraced in -- and of course we still have voids to fill, but it's still a challenge and the challenge before us and you are going to -- you are going to be missed on that team as far as trying to get to that goal. Okay, I appreciate your service, thank you.
>> thank you, Commissioner Davis.
>> I have enjoyed working with you, too, on the serious side.
>> I would just like to say that -- that I have known --
>> your name I know the court knows you well.
>> bonnie floyd, the other assistant purchasing agent. I have known frank for a long time, since we were both at mhmr as employees, not clients. [laughter] frank brought me over here for which I am -- I have a lot of gratitude to him for. Frank you have been both a mentor and a wonderful friend, I love you with all of my -- with all of my heart and I知 going to miss you dearly. Thank you so much.
>> you have been a great asset here at Travis County. Every time we have a problem with purchasing in the future, we will simply call out the manual there that we gave cyd, the other thing as as you know, since you have been in purchasing, we do not give rolex watches to retirees here. But we give very nice beige on blue resolutions and you have one of these coming. Shortly after the vote and after mr. Bryce has his say.
>> thank you, judge. Commissioners, my name is marvin bryce, I have been with the purchasing office for quite some time. I知 going to try to not get choked up, frank, like everyone else. I would like to say when frank first got here, I started working for him, he left, he came back, I was working for him again. And as frank I知 retired military. I would like to say one thing that we have in common is that military bond. We do things a little differently in the military. You know, frank and I sit down and talk about that. I have learned a lot from him. He's brought a -- a professionalism and integrity to the office that -- that I think won't be matched. We are going to try to keep it up, but it's going to be very difficult without you. I thank you for all of the knowledge that you have given me, frank. I thought that I knew as much about purchasing as I could, but going in around speaking with you, I always found that there's something else that I didn't know. There's something else that I can learn, sitting in meetings with you, watching you conduct the meetings, I知 like oh, my goodness how are we going to get out of this. You just go in and you could sell sand to an arab, I guess. But I would like to say I really want to thank you for your leadership and guidance and helping me, that's going to carry me, help to carry me a long way in the office, I really do appreciate that you have brought, you will be missed, man, thank you.
>> thank you.
>> any other family members have words? You may want to say some things here that you are not going to be able to say at home. [laughter]
>> frank has had a lot of annual time, he's been off a lot this month. I called one day to the house and said are you sure you want frank at home? She said I don't know. Just kidding.
>> frank, thank you. Congratulations and good luck. I mean obviously [indiscernible] never want somebody to ask I wonder why everybody says [indiscernible] I think the thing that I have to say about, you know, each and every employee of Travis County, I mean, is the fact that we don't have to call many of you, I mean, it's probably a good notion, I have always found the only reason I needed to call you was for you to explain something to me. I appreciate that. Obviously you have done a wonderful job. Congratulations and good luck with -- you are still a young guy, I知 sure that you are going to do something else. [laughter] honey-do.
>> absolutely.
>> thank you.
>> congratulations.
>> thank you all very much.
>> anything further?
>> frank do you want to say some parting words?
>> yes, I do [laughter]
>> judge Biscoe, Commissioners, my name is frank holder, I知 the assistant purchasing agent. I choose to believe everything that was said from this side and nothing that was generated by these people over here. [laughter] I would playfully annoy the people, about once a week I think, by coming in and wearing maroon. And they returned by seriously giving love, by wearing maroon today. Thank you very, very much for the gesture. For some of you really, really, really orange bloods it took a lot for you to do that. [laughter] thank you.
>> I think the cameras need to look and focus on all of this audience. That's a good --
>> pick up marvin's shoes. [laughter]
>> I mean that's really something.
>> what you just saw on television is the purchasing family. And I have been a member of that family since 94 when I retired from the air force, worked here for two, two and a half years and went to mhmr for a couple of years and cyd coached me back. Coaxed me back. It is very much a family. I think the reason that we have to be that way is because in the logistics process, in the purchasing process, when people need things, it all begins with the identification of a need, writing up the plans and specifications describing what it is that you want and then finally all of the paperwork ends up in purchasing. Sometimes that paperwork is not timely and so we have to make up time. Sometimes that paperwork is a little mishandled for one reason or another, but the people in purchasing are very much professionals. And in those times of crisis, they come together and we really bond together as a family. If anything for just professional survival. And I致e been in this environment for 37 years, 26 in the air force, two with mhmr and nine with the county, and it has been a wonderful profession. I just love it. Every day. Marvin was talking a while ago about being taught something new every day. That's one of the benefits of purchasing is that you come to work every day and something is different. You think that you have done it all, you think that you have seen it all, you simply have not. So for 37 years I have been in this environment and I have enjoyed every single day of it. It is a blessing to me to be retiring from this profession, out of Travis County. It's -- this is a wonderful place to work. And there's a lot of reasons for thatment one of them is -- for that. One of them is the Commissioners court because you help to provide a good working environment for everyone in Travis County. Cyd, I thank you for taking a chance on me in 1994. We did have an interview, a personal interview for about 15 minutes, so I was in georgia at the time, I had to go back home, but a couple of weeks went by and we settled it on the phone and I again I appreciate your taking that chance. I guess it was in 1998 that you started calling me and asking that I come back. It was a good decision for me to come back. I thank you for all of the support that you have given me over the years. I thank my family, the purchasing family, each and every one of you. Thank you very much.
>> thank you.
>> thanks. [ applause ] all in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
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Last Modified:
Wednesday, January 18, 2006 8:13 AM