By:  Chisum                                             H.R. No. 68
       73R2660 WMS-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The recent passing of Ben Ezzell on January 5, 1993,
    1-2  at the age of 76, has brought a great loss to the many friends and
    1-3  relatives of this legendary Panhandle journalist; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, Born in Alvord, Texas, Mr. Ezzell's love of the
    1-5  written word led him into the world of print shortly after his
    1-6  graduation from West Texas State College; working first at the
    1-7  Memphis Democrat and then at the Floydada Hesperian, he took the
    1-8  helm as managing editor of the Seminole Daily Producer in 1940; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, Answering his country's call to duty in her darkest
   1-10  hour, this patriotic individual joined the Air Force in 1941 and
   1-11  served with   distinction for more than two years as an
   1-12  intelligence officer under General Douglas MacArthur in New Guinea,
   1-13  the Dutch East Indies, and the Philippines; and
   1-14        WHEREAS, After the war, he returned to the Texas Panhandle
   1-15  where he resumed his career as a journalist at the Hereford Brand
   1-16  and, in 1948, he founded the Canadian Record with his wife, Nancy
   1-17  Ezzell, with whom he shared the editing and publishing duties; and
   1-18        WHEREAS, Journalistic integrity and editorial forthrightness
   1-19  were the hallmark of this distinguished gentleman during his more
   1-20  than four decades at the Canadian Record, earning him the respect
   1-21  and admiration of his colleagues, who regarded him as one of the
   1-22  finest editorial writers in the state; and
   1-23        WHEREAS, Since its inception, the Canadian Record garnered
   1-24  Mr. and Mrs. Ezzell more than 150 well-deserved awards from the
    2-1  Panhandle Press Association, the Texas Press Association, and the
    2-2  National Newspaper Association; and
    2-3        WHEREAS, In April 1992, Mr. Ezzell's outstanding
    2-4  contributions to the field of journalism were acknowledged by his
    2-5  induction into the Panhandle Press Association Hall of Fame; and
    2-6        WHEREAS, A man of rare integrity and courage, Ben Ezzell will
    2-7  long be remembered by all who were privileged to know him; though
    2-8  his presence is gone from us now, his unique spirit will continue
    2-9  to live in the hearts of the many people whose lives were touched
   2-10  by this outstanding individual; now, therefore, be it
   2-11        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
   2-12  Legislature hereby honor the  memory of Ben Ezzell and extend
   2-13  deepest sympathy to the members of his family:  to his wife, Nancy
   2-14  Ezzell; to his daughter, Laurie Brown; and to the many other
   2-15  friends and relatives of this beloved gentleman; and, be it further
   2-16        RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared
   2-17  for the members of his family and that when the Texas House of
   2-18  Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ben
   2-19  Ezzell.