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.