H.R. No. 548
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS,  On October 1, 1994, the owners of Mathews Cleaners
    1-2  in DeKalb closed the doors of this esteemed dry cleaning
    1-3  establishment for the last time, bringing to an end 76 years of
    1-4  outstanding service to their community; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, The first dry cleaning business in DeKalb, Mathews
    1-6  Cleaners was founded on July 3, 1918, by the late T. D. Mathews,
    1-7  who took advantage of the era's low transportation rates in the
    1-8  early days of the operation to send the dry cleaning to Sherman,
    1-9  more than 100 miles away; and
   1-10        WHEREAS, Mr. Mathews soon gained a loyal following in DeKalb
   1-11  by offering excellent dry cleaning and alteration services at his
   1-12  shop, and the sterling reputation he earned for himself within the
   1-13  community enabled him to overcome an early setback that occurred
   1-14  when a fire devastated his store and most of the downtown business
   1-15  district in 1925; and
   1-16        WHEREAS, After the tragedy, this resourceful entrepreneur set
   1-17  up shop next to his home on Mill Street in northwest DeKalb until
   1-18  he was able to reopen downtown, where he personally continued to
   1-19  run the business until his retirement in the early 1960s; and
   1-20        WHEREAS, A familiar and cherished landmark in DeKalb, the
   1-21  cleaners remained in the Mathews family for three generations and
   1-22  prospered as a friendly mom-and-pop establishment under the expert
   1-23  direction of Jim and Iris Mathews; and
   1-24        WHEREAS, The Mathewses added to the business's loyal
    2-1  clientele through the years, bringing in new customers and friends
    2-2  from throughout the community who appreciated the prompt, friendly
    2-3  service and quality workmanship they received from the shop at its
    2-4  original and subsequent locations; and
    2-5        WHEREAS, At its most recent Runnels Street location, Mathews
    2-6  Cleaners tailored its services to meet the changing needs of its
    2-7  clientele by offering for sale a line of men's and women's apparel,
    2-8  as well as custom-made men's outerwear, while maintaining the
    2-9  high-quality dry cleaning and alteration services that served as
   2-10  the cornerstone of the original shop; and
   2-11        WHEREAS, The key to the success of this extraordinary
   2-12  business through the years has been the remarkable dedication of
   2-13  the Mathews family and the loyalty of their many customers, whose
   2-14  steadfast support and friendship made every day of this prosperous
   2-15  enterprise's operation worthwhile; in light of the unparalleled
   2-16  service this family-owned business provided to its community for
   2-17  more than three quarters of a century, Mathews Cleaners is indeed
   2-18  deserving of special praise and legislative recognition at this
   2-19  time; now, therefore, be it
   2-20        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-21  Legislature hereby honor Mathews Cleaners and its owners, Jim
   2-22  Houston Mathews and Iris Alicia "Bitsy" Mathews, for a truly
   2-23  exemplary record of service to the citizens of DeKalb; and, be it
   2-24  further
   2-25        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-26  prepared for Mr. and Mrs. Mathews as an expression of highest
   2-27  regard by the Texas House of Representatives.