By:  Haley                                       S.R. No. 938
    1-1                           SENATE RESOLUTION
    1-2                               In Memory
    1-3                                  of
    1-4                     The Reverend J. P. Owens, Sr.
    1-5        WHEREAS, The citizens of Woodville and the family and many
    1-6  friends of the Reverend J. P. Owens, Sr., mourn the loss of this
    1-7  beloved pastor who died recently; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, A faithful minister of the gospel for 59 years, the
    1-9  Reverend Owens wanted simply to be known as God's messenger serving
   1-10  God every moment of his life; and
   1-11        WHEREAS, Born July 30, 1916, at Smith Ferry in Tyler County,
   1-12  J. P. Owens, Sr., was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Owens
   1-13  of Buna; he had lived in Woodville for 29 years; and
   1-14        WHEREAS, The Reverend Owens was a graduate of
   1-15  Jasper High School and earned a bachelor of science degree
   1-16  from East Texas Bible College in Marshall and a theological
   1-17  master's degree in 1948 from Southwestern Baptist Theological
   1-18  Seminary in Fort Worth; and
   1-19        WHEREAS, He joined the ministry in 1934 and was licensed by
   1-20  the First Baptist Church in Marshall on January 8, 1936; and
   1-21        WHEREAS, During his career he pastored many churches
   1-22  before serving as director of missions for the Sabine Neches Area;
   1-23  he remained in that position until he retired in 1981; upon his
    2-1  retirement he served as interim minister of many Baptist churches
    2-2  in Texas and Louisiana; he was named pastor emeritus of the First
    2-3  Baptist Church in Jena, Louisiana, on October 11, 1992; and
    2-4        WHEREAS, Very active in religious and civic affairs, the
    2-5  Reverend Owens was the associational moderator in Texas and
    2-6  Louisiana; he donated his time to the State Plans and Policy
    2-7  Committee in Louisiana, the Louisiana State Executive Board,
    2-8  and the Baptist Hospital Board in Alexandria, Louisiana; and
    2-9        WHEREAS, This respected minister's varied and notable
   2-10  achievements have always contributed to the progress of his
   2-11  community; and
   2-12        WHEREAS, His wise counsel and good judgment will be remembered
   2-13  with gratitude by those whose lives he influenced; now, therefore,
   2-14  be it
   2-15        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
   2-16  73rd Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the members
   2-17  of his family:  his son, Judge Jerome P. Owens, Jr.; his daughters,
   2-18  Jane Griffen and Diane Dotson; his brothers, Jamie Owens, Ted Owens,
   2-19  and Guy Owens; his sister, Mary Gray; and his seven grandchildren
   2-20  and three great-grandchildren; and, be it further
   2-21        RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the
   2-22  members of his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the
   2-23  Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so
   2-24  in the name of the Reverend J. P. Owens, Sr.
   2-25                                 _____________________________________
    3-1                                        President of the Senate
    3-2                                      I hereby certify that the
    3-3                                 above Resolution was adopted by
    3-4                                 the Senate on May 14, 1993,
    3-5                                 by a rising vote.
    3-6                                 _____________________________________
    3-7                                        Secretary of the Senate
    3-8                                 _____________________________________
    3-9                                         Member, Texas Senate