By Crabb H.R. No. 420
74R8563 SAJ-D
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, With the observance of her 90th birthday on March
1-2 29, 1995, Dr. Margaret Ruth Berry Ashe of Atlanta, Texas, will
1-3 commemorate yet another milestone in her full and active life; and
1-4 WHEREAS, The daughter of Thomas Eugene and Viola Riley Berry,
1-5 she was born in 1905 and grew up in Denton, where her parents
1-6 sought to instill in their daughter the importance of a good
1-7 education and the traditional family values of hard work,
1-8 achievement, and community involvement; and
1-9 WHEREAS, They were amply rewarded for their efforts by Dr.
1-10 Ashe's noteworthy successes in the course of 25 years as an
1-11 educator; moreover, she has continually worked to further her
1-12 knowledge throughout her lifetime; and
1-13 WHEREAS, She began her college education at Sam Houston State
1-14 Teachers College in Huntsville and studied there from 1921 to 1922;
1-15 20 years later, at an age when many are content with their roles as
1-16 spouses and parents, she marshalled her formidable energy and
1-17 spirit to enroll in the Panhandle Agricultural and Mechanical
1-18 College in Goodwell, Oklahoma, and was a student there from 1942 to
1-19 1943; and
1-20 WHEREAS, Deeply committed to her educational endeavors, she
1-21 returned to her hometown in 1949 to study at Texas State College
1-22 for Women, and her many years of hard work and dedication came to
1-23 fruition when she graduated with honors in 1950; and
1-24 WHEREAS, Dr. Ashe embarked on a fulfilling career as an
2-1 educator that year and served as an English teacher in the White
2-2 Deer School District before becoming a counselor in Angleton; not
2-3 content to rest on her laurels, she furthered her education during
2-4 that time and received a master of arts degree from Texas State
2-5 College for Women in 1951; and
2-6 WHEREAS, In 1953, this exceptional lady went on to teach with
2-7 the Houston Independent School District, where she served as a
2-8 positive influence in countless children's lives for 13 years; and
2-9 WHEREAS, She continued her studies during this period as well
2-10 and received a doctorate in education from The University of Texas
2-11 in 1964, culminating an abiding quest for knowledge that had
2-12 spanned more than 40 years; and
2-13 WHEREAS, Bringing her substantial knowledge as an educator to
2-14 the college level, she served for nine years with San Jacinto
2-15 Junior College in Pasadena; by the time she retired in 1975, she
2-16 had risen to the position of chair of the college's psychology
2-17 department; and
2-18 WHEREAS, Throughout her many endeavors she enjoyed the love
2-19 and support of her husband of many years, the late Claude Harmon
2-20 Ashe, and the couple was blessed with four cherished children, the
2-21 late Claude Ashe, Jr., James H. Ashe III, Margaret Ruth Davidson,
2-22 and John B. Ashe; over the years, her close-knit family has
2-23 continued to grow, and she now enjoys the company of numerous
2-24 grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well; and
2-25 WHEREAS, A woman of immense talents, determination, and
2-26 vision, Dr. Ashe has touched the lives of many people throughout
2-27 her long and fruitful lifetime, and she is most worthy of special
3-1 praise and recognition on the joyous occasion of her birthday; now,
3-2 therefore, be it
3-3 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
3-4 Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Margaret Ruth Berry Ashe on the
3-5 occasion of her 90th birthday and extend to her warmest best wishes
3-6 for continued happiness; and, be it further
3-7 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-8 prepared for Dr. Ashe as an expression of high regard by the Texas
3-9 House of Representatives.