S.C.R. No. 54 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Texas is especially 1-2 proud to express its appreciation to the Reverend O. Fred 1-3 Underwood, C.S.C., for his many years of faithful service to his 1-4 parish and the citizens of Austin; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Since 1982 Father Underwood has been the pastor of 1-6 San Jose Parish in Austin, and the beloved priest has earned the 1-7 respect and gratitude of all whose lives he has touched; and 1-8 WHEREAS, For the past 11 years he has dedicated his life to 1-9 ministering to the needs of those who came to him with their 1-10 concerns; and 1-11 WHEREAS, His leadership has brought many needed improvements 1-12 to the church, and San Jose Parish has been a source of hope and 1-13 inspiration in the community; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Born in Evansville, Indiana, on July 23, 1923, 1-15 Father Underwood attended Saint Benedict's School and graduated 1-16 from Reitz Memorial High School; and 1-17 WHEREAS, After serving his country during World War II in the 1-18 Army Air Corps, Father Underwood joined the Congregation of Holy 1-19 Cross in 1949; and 1-20 WHEREAS, He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with 1-21 a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy in 1952 and continued his 1-22 theological training at Holy Cross Foreign Mission Seminary in 1-23 Washington, D.C.; and 2-1 WHEREAS, On June 6, 1956, Father Underwood was ordained to 2-2 the priesthood at Sacred Heart Church at Notre Dame and began his 2-3 life of service to others; and 2-4 WHEREAS, The newly ordained priest was assigned to Saint 2-5 Joseph's Parish in Killeen, Texas, as assistant pastor in 1957, and 2-6 from that beginning he served as pastor of Dolores Parish in Austin 2-7 and as Vocation Director for Holy Cross, Southern Province, before 2-8 coming to San Jose Parish; and 2-9 WHEREAS, Father Underwood has shown his love and concern for 2-10 his flock throughout his ministry, and he will be deeply missed by 2-11 the members of San Jose Parish and by all who have known his 2-12 friendship; now, therefore, be it 2-13 RESOLVED, That the 73rd Legislature of the State of Texas 2-14 hereby join with the congregation of San Jose Parish in expressing 2-15 appreciation to the Reverend O. Fred Underwood for his invaluable 2-16 contributions to the Austin community and extend best wishes to him 2-17 in his new assignment; and, be it further 2-18 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for the 2-19 respected pastor as an expression of the admiration and esteem of 2-20 the Texas Legislature.