H.R. No. 75 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The 15th annual Snider Family Reunion will take 1-2 place on June 10, 1995, and the Texas House of Representatives is 1-3 pleased to recognize this fine Texas family for its exceptional 1-4 contributions to the cultural and economic richness of our great 1-5 state; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Each year the Snider family gathers in Bremond to 1-7 reflect on its distinctive history, to pay tribute to those family 1-8 members who have passed away, and to recall the bonds that have 1-9 united it for generations; descendants attending the reunions are 1-10 refreshed and strengthened as they celebrate their Polish heritage 1-11 and reweave the delicate fabric of kinship so easily stretched by 1-12 time and distance; and 1-13 WHEREAS, This year's celebration, which is expected to draw 1-14 more than 150 family members, will begin with a Catholic Mass at 1-15 Saint Mary's Catholic Church that will be followed by a celebration 1-16 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bremond; and 1-17 WHEREAS, As detailed in The History of the Snider Family of 1-18 Robertson County, by Dan and Leonard Kubiak, the family has traced 1-19 its roots back to Poland when, seeking to escape the destitute 1-20 conditions of their war-torn country, hundreds of families found 1-21 land and opportunity in Texas in the late 1800s; as news of hope 1-22 made its way back to Poland, other settlers followed, and through 1-23 hard work, determination, and an unwavering faith in God, new 1-24 settlements were soon established throughout the state; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Two brothers, Tom and Jacob Suchowiak (Snider), were 2-2 among those who escaped the hardship of their motherland to settle 2-3 the heavily wooded region near the communities of Bremond and 2-4 Wooten Wells in Robertson County; overcoming the many obstacles of 2-5 frontier life, they worked the new land with fervent vigor to make 2-6 for themselves and their families a future bright with promise that 2-7 would lead to success and happiness for generations of family 2-8 members to come; and 2-9 WHEREAS, Tom and Balbina Snider became prominent citizens of 2-10 the Wooten Wells settlement and together raised a large family in 2-11 the warmth of a loving Christian household; their son, Mike Snider, 2-12 married Veronica Grudziecki on November 15, 1906, and also raised a 2-13 large family that grew to include John Snider, Willie Snider 2-14 Storemski, Bill Snider, Connie Snider Kubiak, Bruno Snider, 2-15 Christine Snider Knapik, Louis Snider, and Lee Snider; and 2-16 WHEREAS, At the age of 87, John Snider is now the oldest 2-17 living member of the family, and the other children of Mike and 2-18 Veronica Snider who are today respected elders and honored guests 2-19 at each year's reunion include Willie Storemski, Connie Kubiak, 2-20 Christine Knapik, Louis Snider, and Lee Snider; and 2-21 WHEREAS, Seeking to revive and preserve the cultural 2-22 traditions and values that were once so central to the lives of 2-23 their Polish forefathers, organizers of the Snider Family Reunion 2-24 emphasize their family's unique history, while at the same time 2-25 they recognize and extoll the achievements contemporary family 2-26 members have made over the years; highly educated and extremely 2-27 motivated, many have attained prominent positions in medicine, 3-1 business, law, politics, agriculture, construction, publishing, 3-2 historic preservation, and private industry; and 3-3 WHEREAS, Against difficult odds, ancestors of the Snider 3-4 family risked everything they had to journey to a new land, where 3-5 they labored faithfully and painstakingly to better themselves; 3-6 they ultimately emerged triumphant, not only improving their own 3-7 lives, but also contributing to the rich cultural heritage and 3-8 economic development of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it 3-9 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 3-10 Legislature hereby designate June 10, 1995, as Snider Family Day in 3-11 Texas and extend warmest best wishes to all family members who 3-12 attend the festivities for a delightful and rewarding reunion; and, 3-13 be it further 3-14 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-15 prepared for the Snider family as an expression of highest regard 3-16 by the Texas House of Representatives.