H.R. No. 229
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The passing of the Reverend Walter Bookman, at the
    1-2  age of 83, has brought a great loss to the many friends and
    1-3  relatives of this esteemed Texas clergyman; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, A native of Elmore, he attended Southwestern
    1-5  Theological Seminary and Bishop College, where he attained his
    1-6  degree in theology in 1957; and
    1-7        WHEREAS, This inspirational individual began his career as a
    1-8  mechanic and was quite gifted in that work, but in 1938 he answered
    1-9  the call to the ministry, taking a position as pastor in Frisco;
   1-10  and
   1-11        WHEREAS, After serving the spiritual needs of worshipers in
   1-12  Frisco and Carrollton for seven years, Reverend Bookman founded the
   1-13  New Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in West Dallas; and
   1-14        WHEREAS, Despite its humble beginning when it was housed in a
   1-15  rented shack made of apple boxes and lard cans, the church was able
   1-16  to enjoy extraordinary success in attracting new churchgoers as
   1-17  Reverend Bookman fostered his church through a period of
   1-18  exceptional growth, which twice required relocation to larger sites
   1-19  to accommodate new members; and
   1-20        WHEREAS, Reverend Bookman was an active and respected voice
   1-21  within the religious community, serving with distinction as
   1-22  president of the Dallas West Ministerial Alliance and vice
   1-23  president of the Interdenominational Minister's Alliance, and for
   1-24  his remarkable work he was designated as the latter organization's
    2-1  man of the year in 1985; and
    2-2        WHEREAS, Throughout his many years of exemplary service,
    2-3  Reverend Bookman placed the needs of his congregation and community
    2-4  above all else; although his strength and wisdom will be missed by
    2-5  all who knew him, his remarkable spirit will live on in the hearts
    2-6  of the many people whose lives he touched; now, therefore, be it
    2-7        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
    2-8  Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of the Reverend Walter
    2-9  Bookman and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family:
   2-10  to his daughter, Rose Evelyn Roberts; to his brother, Fred Bookman;
   2-11  to his nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; and to the
   2-12  many other friends and relatives of this beloved gentleman; and, be
   2-13  it further
   2-14        RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared
   2-15  for the members of his family and that when the Texas House of
   2-16  Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of the
   2-17  Reverend Walter Bookman.