H.R. No. 747 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, W. D. "Ted" Willhoite was accorded a great honor 1-2 when he was named Grapevine's 1994 Citizen of the Year by the 1-3 Grapevine Chamber of Commerce, and the members of this chamber are 1-4 proud to join in honoring this exceptional civic leader; and 1-5 WHEREAS, A lifelong resident of Grapevine, Mr. Willhoite was 1-6 born August 7, 1911, to Wiley and Bertie Winfrey Willhoite; he 1-7 earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from North 1-8 Texas Agricultural College in 1932, but because the nationwide 1-9 Depression made jobs difficult to find, this enterprising gentleman 1-10 created his own job opportunity by opening a feed store business; 1-11 and 1-12 WHEREAS, He later joined his father in operating a service 1-13 station on Grapevine's Main Street, and he continued to manage this 1-14 thriving business until his retirement 40 years later; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Mr. Willhoite married the former Wilena Kingston on 1-16 July 21, 1934, and they were blessed with two lovely daughters, 1-17 Wanda and Janet; and 1-18 WHEREAS, The year 1934 also marked the beginning of 1-19 Mr. Willhoite's remarkable record of community service, for it was 1-20 then that he became a charter member of the local Lions Club; he 1-21 would go on to serve in all positions of the club, and he has been 1-22 honored by his friends in the organization with the 60th Year Lions 1-23 Charter Monarch Award and as a Melvin Jones Fellow; and 1-24 WHEREAS, Highly regarded by his many friends in the 2-1 community, Mr. Willhoite has served as election judge for Precinct 2-2 114 and served for 17 years on the local school board; he also was 2-3 a member of the Grapevine Housing Authority when the community's 2-4 first units were built in 1967, and his long and distinguished 2-5 tenure included a 10-year term as chairman of the board; and 2-6 WHEREAS, Now an esteemed director of the Grapevine Heritage 2-7 Foundation and the president of the Grapevine Historical Society, 2-8 Mr. Willhoite has been a leading figure in the drive to revitalize 2-9 the city's downtown and preserve its colorful past, and his 2-10 dedicated efforts earned him the Rotary Foundation's prestigious 2-11 designation as a Paul Harris Fellow in 1991; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Blessed with a warm and loving 55-year marriage to 2-13 his wife, Wilena, until her passing in 1990, Mr. Willhoite now 2-14 delights in the company of his four grandchildren and four 2-15 great-grandchildren; an avid golfer, he recently shot a score of 2-16 two strokes under his age of 83, and he enjoys woodworking and 2-17 painting as well; and 2-18 WHEREAS, In serving his family, his church, and his 2-19 community, Mr. Willhoite has set an outstanding example of civic 2-20 leadership for others to follow, and his efforts have earned him 2-21 the respect and admiration of his friends and neighbors and the 2-22 gratitude of his fellow Texans; now, therefore, be it 2-23 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-24 Legislature hereby congratulate W. D. "Ted" Willhoite on being 2-25 named Grapevine's 1994 Citizen of the Year and extend to him 2-26 warmest best wishes for many more years of continued success and 2-27 happiness; and, be it further 3-1 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-2 prepared for Mr. Willhoite as an expression of highest regard by 3-3 the Texas House of Representatives.