H.R. No. 637
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, Joe W. Belk will retire from his position as a
    1-2  teacher with the Huntington Independent School District in May
    1-3  1995, drawing to a close his distinguished 41-year career as an
    1-4  educator; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, Born in Cushing, Mr. Belk was educated in that
    1-6  community's school system before entering Stephen F. Austin State
    1-7  College; he graduated from college in 1954 and embarked on an
    1-8  educational career with the Huntington school district that would
    1-9  span more than four decades; and
   1-10        WHEREAS, In addition to serving as superintendent of the
   1-11  school district for five years, Mr. Belk has taught agriculture to
   1-12  several generations of Huntington students; he has seen numerous
   1-13  scientific and technological advances during his career, but he has
   1-14  continued to instill in his students the same enthusiasm,
   1-15  confidence, and pride that inspired the earliest farmers and
   1-16  ranchers of the Lone Star State; and
   1-17        WHEREAS, By imparting this sense of history to his students
   1-18  as well as the fundamentals of agriculture, Mr. Belk has prepared
   1-19  countless students to meet the challenges and responsibilities of
   1-20  this vital Texas industry; and
   1-21        WHEREAS, Throughout his career, Mr. Belk has enjoyed the love
   1-22  and support of his wife, Marie Denney Belk, and their children,
   1-23  Denise Belk Wilcox and Craig Belk; in recent years, his family has
   1-24  grown to include two grandchildren, Blake and Ryan Wilcox, both of
    2-1  whom are a continuing source of joy and delight to their
    2-2  grandfather; and
    2-3        WHEREAS, This respected educator can be justifiably proud
    2-4  that a second generation of the Belk family will continue his
    2-5  legacy of dedication and commitment, as Denise Wilcox has followed
    2-6  in her father's footsteps to become a teacher with the Lufkin
    2-7  school district; and
    2-8        WHEREAS, Joe W. Belk truly embodies the spirit of service and
    2-9  dedication to learning that is the hallmark of a great teacher; he
   2-10  has made a real and lasting difference in the lives of many of his
   2-11  students, and the success of those students is perhaps the greatest
   2-12  testimonial that any teacher can receive; now, therefore, be it
   2-13        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-14  Legislature hereby honor Joe W. Belk for his many years of service
   2-15  as a school teacher and extend to him warmest best wishes for a
   2-16  happy and fulfilling retirement; and, be it further
   2-17        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-18  prepared for Mr. Belk as an expression of high regard by the Texas
   2-19  House of Representatives.