H.R. No. 869 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, On April 2, 1917, the small Texas town of Marble 1-2 Falls made history by electing Ophelia "Birdie" Harwood mayor, 1-3 thereby making her the first female to hold this office within the 1-4 state; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Coming more than three years before the 19th 1-6 Amendment to the United States Constitution guaranteed women the 1-7 right to vote, Mrs. Harwood's election was truly an amazing 1-8 accomplishment, as neither she nor any other women of the community 1-9 could cast a vote in her favor, and the men who did so were 1-10 choosing not to vote for a male candidate who also was on the 1-11 ballot; and 1-12 WHEREAS, Following the mayor's election, the weekly Marble 1-13 Falls Messenger remarked in its April 5 issue that "Marble Falls is 1-14 probably the only town in Texas with a lady mayor," an observation 1-15 that has never been refuted; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Mrs. Harwood continued to break barriers throughout 1-17 her lifetime, earning an appointment to the post of judge of the 1-18 municipal court of Marble Falls by an all-male city commission in 1-19 1936 and distinguishing herself as an outstanding public servant 1-20 for more than two decades; and 1-21 WHEREAS, This remarkable woman was the wife of George 1-22 Harwood, who was himself a highly respected local civic leader who 1-23 served as the area's country physician; and 1-24 WHEREAS, Though several states allowed women to vote before 2-1 ratification of the 19th Amendment, and several towns in those 2-2 states elected female mayors before Mrs. Harwood was elected, she 2-3 clearly remains the first and only woman in the nation to have been 2-4 elected mayor by an all-male electorate; and 2-5 WHEREAS, The Chamber of Commerce of Marble Falls/Lake LBJ has 2-6 set aside July 24, 1993, as a day of celebration to pay tribute to 2-7 Mrs. Harwood for her unprecedented achievement in being the first 2-8 female to be elected mayor of a Texas town, as well as the first 2-9 female in all states to be elected mayor solely by men; the event 2-10 will also acknowledge George Harwood for his contributions and the 2-11 township of Marble Falls for having taken this significant 2-12 progressive step; now, therefore, be it 2-13 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas 2-14 Legislature hereby commemorate this historic occasion and honor the 2-15 memory of Ophelia "Birdie" and George Harwood for their exceptional 2-16 achievements; and, be it further 2-17 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-18 prepared for the descendants of these fine Texans and the people of 2-19 Marble Falls as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of 2-20 Representatives.