H.R. No. 784 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The passing of E. B. Whorton, Sr., at the age of 88, 1-2 has brought a great loss to the many friends and relatives of this 1-3 distinguished gentleman; and 1-4 WHEREAS, A native Texan, Elbert Benjamin Whorton, Sr., was 1-5 born August 26, 1905, in the community of Cryer Creek in Navarro 1-6 County, and he settled with his family in Rule in 1906; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Mr. Whorton attended McMurry University in Abilene, 1-8 where he was well known for his athletic prowess and led his team 1-9 to numerous victories in football and baseball, earning a coveted 1-10 position on the All-American team; he played guard on the 1926 1-11 National Championship football team, and after college, he enjoyed 1-12 a career in semiprofessional baseball; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Mr. Whorton also was well known throughout the Rule 1-14 community as a movie theater proprietor, a business he entered into 1-15 as a teenager in the 1920s with his older brother, Robert Ford, and 1-16 his mother; and 1-17 WHEREAS, After Mr. Ford's passing in 1935, Mr. Whorton and 1-18 his mother became the dual owners of the family's growing theater 1-19 business; under their wise and thoughtful guidance, the venture 1-20 continued to prosper, and the Whortons came to own cinemas and 1-21 drive-in theaters in the towns of Haskell, San Saba, Llano, and 1-22 Spur, as well as Rule; and 1-23 WHEREAS, In 1952, Mr. Whorton and his lovely wife, Allene, 1-24 built the Tower Drive-In Theater in Rule, which was one of the 2-1 first drive-in theaters in Texas; in testament to their outstanding 2-2 business skills, the enterprise continues to operate today after 2-3 more than 40 years in business; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Whorton shared their many fond memories 2-5 of their business as featured guests on several broadcasts of "The 2-6 Eyes of Texas" television show and have been the topic of numerous 2-7 articles in newspapers across the state; and 2-8 WHEREAS, Mr. Whorton also will be fondly remembered for his 2-9 devotion to his four children, and he worked tirelessly to enhance 2-10 the recreational opportunities for youngsters in his community; he 2-11 was active in numerous youth athletic programs and served as a 2-12 scoutmaster with the Chisholm Trail Boy Scout Council, leading a 2-13 delegation of Explorer Scouts on an unforgettable canoeing and 2-14 fishing trip through the wilds of Minnesota and Canada; and 2-15 WHEREAS, This warm and caring gentleman greatly enjoyed the 2-16 many close friendships he developed as an esteemed member of the 2-17 Texas Grand Masonry; a member of the Masonic Lodge for 67 years, he 2-18 attained the rank of 32nd Degree Mason and was a lifetime member of 2-19 the Rule Masonic Lodge; and 2-20 WHEREAS, Mr. Whorton also was a member of the York Rite and 2-21 the Scottish Rite and was affiliated with the Shriners; deeply 2-22 committed to helping those in need, he was an ardent supporter of 2-23 the Crippled Children's Hospitals program of the Masonic Lodge of 2-24 Texas; and 2-25 WHEREAS, Mr. Whorton was a man of immense vision and energy 2-26 who greatly benefited the local community; though his special 2-27 presence will be deeply missed, his unique spirit will surely live 3-1 on in the hearts and minds of the many people whose lives he 3-2 touched; now, therefore, be it 3-3 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 3-4 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of E. B. Whorton, Sr., 3-5 and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his 3-6 beloved wife of 56 years, Allene B. Allen Whorton; to his three 3-7 sons, Elbert Benjamin Whorton, Jr., Robert Allen Whorton, and Jack 3-8 Alston Whorton; to his daughter, Mary Katherine Whorton Morris; to 3-9 his brother, Joe Whorton; to his sisters, Orene Goodwin and Jimmie 3-10 Whorton Spain; to his five grandchildren, Lalise Loessin 3-11 Whorton-Mason, Anna Linae Loessin Whorton, Robert Allen Whorton, 3-12 Jr., Emily Suzanne Whorton, and Nathan "Chip" Morris II; to his 3-13 great-grandchildren, A. J. and Robert Allen Whorton III; and to his 3-14 many other friends and relatives; and, be it further 3-15 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-16 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas 3-17 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of 3-18 E. B. Whorton, Sr.