H.R. No. 448 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, This year the Reverend Ralph M. Smith celebrates his 1-2 35 years of faithful service as pastor to the congregation of the 1-3 Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin; and 1-4 WHEREAS, This outstanding clergyman was graduated from 1-5 Ouachita Baptist University in 1952 and received his doctoral 1-6 degree in theology from the Southwestern Baptist Theological 1-7 Seminary in 1960; the recipient of an honorary doctor of divinity 1-8 degree from Ouachita Baptist University, he has also been honored 1-9 with the designation of the Ralph M. and Bess N. Smith Chair of 1-10 Preaching at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; and 1-11 WHEREAS, During his early years as a pastor in Arkansas, 1-12 Dr. Smith served congregations at the Brownstown Baptist Church, 1-13 Sayre Baptist Church, Lake Hamilton Baptist Church, and Oak Grove 1-14 Baptist Church; he came to the Lone Star State in 1956 to begin his 1-15 ministry at the First Baptist Church in Rosenberg and, only four 1-16 years later, moved to Austin to pursue his true calling as pastor 1-17 of the Hyde Park Baptist Church; and 1-18 WHEREAS, Under the able ministry of Reverend Smith, the Hyde 1-19 Park Baptist Church has experienced phenomenal growth during the 1-20 last 35 years, expanding from a small membership of 1,700 members 1-21 in 1960 to a current congregation of 10,000; the brethren of the 1-22 church have purchased or constructed several new sanctuaries, 1-23 education buildings, and recreational facilities, including a 1-24 58-acre site containing tennis courts, soccer fields, softball 2-1 diamonds, picnic grounds, a spring-fed lake, and a 300-seat 2-2 tabernacle used for special performances; and 2-3 WHEREAS, A man of great vision and inspiration, Pastor Smith 2-4 has been instrumental in guiding the church into a wide range of 2-5 ministries and missions that are located from Austin to Rio de 2-6 Janeiro; in addition to helping develop a successful radio and 2-7 television ministry, this remarkable individual has written 2-8 numerous books for the ecclesiastical community, including Helping 2-9 Churches Grow, Living the Spirit-Filled Life, and Facing Life's 2-10 Challenges with Confidence; and 2-11 WHEREAS, In his tireless pursuit of ways to improve the lives 2-12 of those around him, Dr. Smith has shared his valuable expertise 2-13 and insight as the director of the Citizens Insurance Company, a 2-14 member of the Austin Diagnostic Clinic advisory board, and a 2-15 founding board member of Shoal Creek Hospital; a former trustee at 2-16 Baylor University and the Southwestern Baptist Theological 2-17 Seminary, he has over the years worked closely with the Austin 2-18 Baptist Association, the Baptist Convention of Texas, and the 2-19 Southern Baptist Convention; and 2-20 WHEREAS, In addition to his many ministerial duties and 2-21 concerns, this exceptional pastor is a devoted family man who 2-22 enjoys a happy and successful marriage with his wife, Bess M. Noble 2-23 Smith, and who takes great pride in the accomplishments of his 2-24 three children, Charlene Diane Love, Wallace Morgan Smith, and 2-25 Peyton Noble Smith; renowned for his love of the outdoors, he is 2-26 also an avid skier, golfer, hunter, and fisherman; and 2-27 WHEREAS, The Reverend Ralph M. Smith has touched the lives of 3-1 countless people throughout his more than quarter of a century of 3-2 service to the Hyde Park Baptist Church; his outstanding spiritual 3-3 leadership, understanding guidance, and strong faith have been a 3-4 source of inspiration and enlightenment to all those who know him; 3-5 now, therefore, be it 3-6 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 3-7 Legislature hereby honor the Reverend Ralph M. Smith on his 35 3-8 years of exceptional service as pastor of the Hyde Park Baptist 3-9 Church and commend him on the many significant contributions he has 3-10 made to the betterment of his community and state; and, be it 3-11 further 3-12 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-13 prepared for Dr. Smith as an expression of high esteem by the Texas 3-14 House of Representatives.