H.R. No. 223 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The passing of Ralph Nabors Hooks, Sr., on February 1-2 8, 1995, at the age of 75, has brought a great loss to the many 1-3 friends and relatives of this distinguished Texas businessman and 1-4 civic leader; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Mr. Hooks will be fondly remembered as a devoted 1-6 husband, a loving father and grandfather, a loyal friend, and an 1-7 upstanding member of the Abilene community who demonstrated an 1-8 exemplary concern for the well-being of others; and 1-9 WHEREAS, He was graduated from Texas Technological College, 1-10 now Texas Tech University, in 1940 with a degree in business 1-11 administration, and, like many of his generation, he was a 1-12 patriotic and dutiful man who came to the aid of his country during 1-13 World War II; an outstanding officer, he rose through the ranks of 1-14 the United States Navy to become a lieutenant, and his service 1-15 aboard the USS McCord was recognized when he received a Bronze Star 1-16 for his heroism; and 1-17 WHEREAS, When the war ended, Mr. Hooks returned to Abilene 1-18 and distinguished himself through a successful career with 1-19 Lydick-Hooks Roofing Company; having previously worked for the 1-20 company as a teenager during the summers, he assumed his family's 1-21 interest in the business after his father, the late J. M. Hooks, 1-22 passed away in 1947; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Under his astute and innovative leadership as 1-24 president, the business continued to prosper and now has offices in 2-1 Abilene, Lubbock, Midland, and several other cities in the Lone 2-2 Star State; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Caring greatly about the well-being of his staff, he 2-4 led his business to become one of the first roofing companies in 2-5 the state to offer its employees a profit-sharing retirement plan; 2-6 and 2-7 WHEREAS, In addition to his fine career as a businessman, 2-8 Mr. Hooks was well regarded throughout the area for his outstanding 2-9 tenure as mayor of Abilene, serving his fellow citizens with 2-10 integrity and distinction from 1966 to 1969; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Mr. Hooks continued to address the needs of his 2-12 community as a private citizen through leadership positions with 2-13 the West Central Texas Council of Governments, the West Central 2-14 Texas Municipal Water District, and the West Texas Utilities 2-15 Company; and 2-16 WHEREAS, In addition, he offered wise and thoughtful insight 2-17 as a board member of Abilene's First National Bank for 40 years, 2-18 and he was active with the Texas Employers' Insurance Association 2-19 and the Hendrick Medical Center Foundation; and 2-20 WHEREAS, Deeply committed to improving educational 2-21 opportunities in the state, he served with distinction on the 2-22 boards of Texas Christian University and McMurry College; and 2-23 WHEREAS, Mr. Hooks also left an indelible mark on the Abilene 2-24 community through his service to several community organizations, 2-25 including the United Fund, the Salvation Army, Abilene Community 2-26 Theatre, and the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, which honored him as 2-27 its Citizen of the Year in 1967 in recognition of his outstanding 3-1 contributions; and 3-2 WHEREAS, Throughout life's endeavors, he was nurtured by an 3-3 abiding religious faith eloquently expressed as a devout member of 3-4 First Christian Church of Abilene, where he served as an elder, as 3-5 a Sunday school teacher, and as vice chairman of the church's 3-6 official board; and 3-7 WHEREAS, Mr. Hooks was a man of great vision whose remarkable 3-8 contributions to the quality of life in his community will continue 3-9 to have a profound effect for generations to come; though his 3-10 special presence will be missed by all who knew him, his unique 3-11 spirit will surely live on in the hearts and minds of the many 3-12 people whose lives were touched by this exceptional gentleman; now, 3-13 therefore, be it 3-14 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 3-15 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Ralph Nabors Hooks, 3-16 Sr., and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to 3-17 his beloved wife, Nelle Smith Hooks of Abilene; to his daughter, 3-18 Elizabeth Ann Hooks Adams of Dallas; to his son, Ralph N. "Randy" 3-19 Hooks, Jr., of Lubbock; to his two grandchildren; and to the many 3-20 other friends and relatives of this outstanding Texan; and, be it 3-21 further 3-22 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-23 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas 3-24 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of 3-25 Ralph Nabors Hooks, Sr.