By: Shapiro S.R. No. 1028 1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION 1-2 WHEREAS, On April 2, 1917, the small Texas town of 1-3 Marble Falls made history by electing Ophelia "Birdie" Harwood 1-4 mayor, thereby making her the first female to hold this office 1-5 within the state; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Coming more than three years before the 1-7 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution guaranteed 1-8 women the right to vote, Mrs. Harwood's election was truly an 1-9 amazing accomplishment, as neither she nor any other women of 1-10 the community could cast a vote in her favor, and the men who did 1-11 so were choosing not to vote for a male candidate who also was on 1-12 the ballot; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Following the mayor's election, the weekly 1-14 Marble Falls Messenger remarked in its April 5 issue that 1-15 "Marble Falls is probably the only town in Texas with a lady mayor," 1-16 an observation that has never been refuted; and 1-17 WHEREAS, Mrs. Harwood continued to break barriers throughout 1-18 her lifetime, earning an appointment to the post of judge of the 1-19 municipal court of Marble Falls by an all-male city commission in 1-20 1936 and distinguishing herself as an outstanding public servant 1-21 for more than two decades; and 1-22 WHEREAS, This remarkable women was the wife of George Harwood, 1-23 who was himself a highly respected local civic leader who served as 2-1 the area's country physician; and 2-2 WHEREAS, Though several states allowed women to vote 2-3 before ratification of the 19th Amendment, and several towns in 2-4 those states elected female mayors before Mrs. Harwood was elected, 2-5 she clearly remains the first and only woman in the nation to have 2-6 been elected mayor by an all-male electorate; and 2-7 WHEREAS, The Chamber of Commerce of Marble Falls/Lake LBJ 2-8 has set aside July 24, 1993, as a day of celebration to pay tribute 2-9 to Mrs. Harwood for her unprecedented achievement in being the 2-10 first female to be elected mayor of a Texas town, as well as the 2-11 first female in all states to be elected mayor solely by men; the 2-12 event will also acknowledge George Harwood for his contributions 2-13 and the township of Marble Falls for having taken this significant 2-14 progressive step; now, therefore, be it 2-15 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-16 73rd Legislature, hereby commemorate this historic occasion and 2-17 honor the memory of Ophelia "Birdie" and George Harwood for their 2-18 exceptional achievements; and, be it further 2-19 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be 2-20 prepared for the descendants of these fine Texans and the people 2-21 of Marble Falls as an expression of high regard by the Texas Senate. 2-22 _____________________________________ 2-23 President of the Senate 2-24 I hereby certify that the 2-25 above Resolution was adopted by 3-1 the Senate on May 22, 1993. 3-2 _____________________________________ 3-3 Secretary of the Senate 3-4 _____________________________________ 3-5 Member, Texas Senate