By:  Dear                                              H.R. No. 133
       73R3501 NBM-F
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The family and many friends of Earle North Parker, a
    1-2  distinguished citizen of Fort Worth, were deeply saddened by his
    1-3  passing on January 15, 1993, at the age of 71; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, A descendant of one of Texas' most prominent
    1-5  families and a graduate of Culver Military Academy, Mr. Parker
    1-6  pursued his undergraduate education as a student at Menlo Junior
    1-7  College, The University of Texas at Austin, and Texas Christian
    1-8  University; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, During World War II, he served proudly and capably
   1-10  as an Army Air Force fighter pilot assigned to the famous 94th "Hat
   1-11  in the Ring" Fighter  Squadron, earning the Distinguished Flying
   1-12  Cross, three Presidential Unit Citations, and more than 20 Air
   1-13  Medals, later retiring with the rank of first lieutenant; and
   1-14        WHEREAS, Following his return to civilian life, Mr. Parker
   1-15  entered the field of banking and during the 1950s and 1960s served
   1-16  as the director, president, and board chairman of Ridglea State
   1-17  Bank and also shared his valuable insight and expertise as a
   1-18  director of Continental National Bank; and
   1-19        WHEREAS, A man with firm ties to his community, this civic
   1-20  benefactor served and supported such worthy organizations as the
   1-21  Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, the Cook-Fort Worth Children's
   1-22  Medical Center, the United Way, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, the
   1-23  Boy Scouts of America, the United States Olympic Committee, and the
   1-24  Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show; and
    2-1        WHEREAS, He founded the Air Force Association's Fort Worth
    2-2  chapter, which was to become the 190,000-member organization's
    2-3  largest unit, served as the organization's first state president
    2-4  and, in 1968, received its Man of the Year Award; and
    2-5        WHEREAS, His legacy also includes Earle North Parker
    2-6  Scholarships, which were founded in 1963, and the Earle North
    2-7  Parker Campsite Fund, which enables needy boys to attend the area's
    2-8  three Scout camps; and
    2-9        WHEREAS, Throughout his life, Earle Parker contributed
   2-10  significantly to the betterment of the Fort Worth community, the
   2-11  State of Texas, and the nation at large; though his boundless
   2-12  intelligence, warmth, and generosity will be greatly missed, his
   2-13  memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew him and in the
   2-14  legacy of achievement he leaves behind; now, therefore, be it
   2-15        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
   2-16  Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Earle North Parker
   2-17  and extend profound sympathy to the members of his family: to his
   2-18  beloved wife, Billie Shelton Parker; to his sons, Earle Whitney
   2-19  Parker of Fort Worth, Patrick Allison Parker of Glen Rose, and
   2-20  Robert Wayne Wright and Charles Richard Wright, both of Fort Worth;
   2-21  to his daughters, Shannon Parker Ables of Glen Rose, Kelli Parker
   2-22  of Granbury, and Theresa Wright Anderson of Ponder; and to his 13
   2-23  grandchildren and one great-grandchild; and, be it further
   2-24        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-25  prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
   2-26  House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
   2-27  Earle North Parker.