H.R. No. 484
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The passing of Thelma Rawls Fletcher on March 13,
1-2 1995, at the age of 90, has brought a great loss to the many
1-3 friends and relatives of this distinguished Texan; and
1-4 WHEREAS, Mrs. Fletcher was born in 1905 on her parents'
1-5 cattle ranch near the Big Bend community of Pleasanton and attended
1-6 boarding school at San Antonio's Incarnate Word Academy; she
1-7 furthered her studies at San Antonio College, where she nurtured
1-8 her love of learning and her lifelong appreciation of books; and
1-9 WHEREAS, Her abiding love for Texas history and literature
1-10 led her to take a job in a San Antonio bookstore, where she met her
1-11 future husband, Herbert Fletcher; after exchanging wedding vows in
1-12 1927, the couple moved to Houston to begin their literary and
1-13 business collaboration, and for many years their bookstore was the
1-14 headquarters for much of Houston's literary life; and
1-15 WHEREAS, The Fletchers' expertise in the areas of rare books
1-16 and Texas history enabled them to advise The University of Texas on
1-17 its acquisition of a rare book collection, and they assisted former
1-18 President Harry S Truman in selecting archival materials for his
1-19 presidential library in Missouri; the couple also established the
1-20 Anson Jones Press, which has published some of the finest works on
1-21 Texas culture in the 20th century; and
1-22 WHEREAS, The couple relocated to Salado in 1954, where their
1-23 store continued to attract a loyal following, and Mrs. Fletcher
1-24 went on to operate Fletcher's Books and Antiques for many years
2-1 after her husband's passing in 1968, most recently with the
2-2 assistance of her grandson, Tyler Riggs Fletcher; the family's
2-3 successful operation of the bookstore has earned them renown as the
2-4 enterprise has distinguished itself as the oldest continuously
2-5 operating bookstore in Texas; and
2-6 WHEREAS, Mrs. Fletcher greatly enhanced the study of
2-7 literature in the state when she sold her husband's extensive
2-8 collection of rare books to Rice University after his passing; and
2-9 WHEREAS, She continued to benefit her chosen field through
2-10 her work with several professional organizations; a certified
2-11 appraiser of rare books, she was the first book appraiser to become
2-12 a senior member of the American Society of Appraisers, and she went
2-13 on to conduct appraisals for a variety of businesses and
2-14 individuals throughout the country and in England; and
2-15 WHEREAS, Well regarded throughout her profession for her
2-16 expertise, professionalism, and dedication, she authored several
2-17 articles in professional journals and served as an expert witness
2-18 in court on rare books and antiquities; and
2-19 WHEREAS, In addition, Mrs. Fletcher was a founding member of
2-20 Valuers Consortium and capably served as vice president of the
2-21 Southwest Chapter of the American Society of Appraisers; a woman of
2-22 boundless energy and enthusiasm, she worked to the benefit of state
2-23 and local issues as an esteemed member of the Texas Historical
2-24 Commission, the Bell County Historical Commission, the Salado
2-25 Historical Society, and the Salado Public Library; and
2-26 WHEREAS, Deeply committed to her community, she and her
2-27 husband were instrumental in the development of Main Street Salado
3-1 and helped establish its reputation as a historic village and as a
3-2 center for antiques and the arts; and
3-3 WHEREAS, Mrs. Fletcher also was highly regarded in political
3-4 circles for her many years of work with the Republican Party; she
3-5 attended the party's first precinct convention in Salado, which was
3-6 held under a hackberry tree on the Old Red School campus, and was a
3-7 charter member of the Chisholm Trail Republican Women's
3-8 Organization; and
3-9 WHEREAS, This remarkable woman touched the lives of many
3-10 people during her long and fruitful life, and though her presence
3-11 will be deeply missed, her memory will endure in the hearts and
3-12 minds of all who came to know and love her; now, therefore, be it
3-13 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
3-14 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Thelma Rawls Fletcher
3-15 and extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her
3-16 son, Tyler H. Fletcher of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; to her eight
3-17 grandchildren; to her 14 great-grandchildren; and to the many other
3-18 friends and relatives of this lovely lady; and, be it further
3-19 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-20 prepared for the members of her family and that when the Texas
3-21 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
3-22 Thelma Rawls Fletcher.