By Counts H.R. No. 815 74R12483 PFG-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The recent retirement of Joseph Pickle in April 1995 1-2 marked the end of an era for his friends and colleagues on the 1-3 board of directors of the Colorado River Municipal Water District, 1-4 which he served with distinction as secretary-treasurer for nearly 1-5 50 years; and 1-6 WHEREAS, The district's first and only secretary-treasurer to 1-7 date, Mr. Pickle was an employee of the Big Spring Herald when he 1-8 attended the fledgling water district's organizational meeting in 1-9 1946; at the request of the chairman, he agreed to take the minutes 1-10 of the meeting, undoubtedly with little idea at the time that he 1-11 would perform this important function regularly for 4-1/2 decades; 1-12 and 1-13 WHEREAS, After the water district was formally created by 1-14 state law, the board appointed Mr. Pickle to serve as its official 1-15 secretary-treasurer, and throughout the ensuing decades he has 1-16 discharged this task admirably, producing more than 11 volumes of 1-17 minutes during his long tenure, which convey the full history of 1-18 the district in lively and accurate detail; and 1-19 WHEREAS, In addition to his duties with the board, this 1-20 skillful journalist continued to work at the Big Spring Herald and 1-21 retired from the newspaper business in 1975 as editor of the paper; 1-22 and 1-23 WHEREAS, At this juncture in his professional life, he 1-24 accepted full-time employment with the water district, beginning a 2-1 second highly successful career as the district's media liaison, 2-2 while continuing to faithfully record the minutes of each board 2-3 meeting; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Mr. Pickle is renowned in Big Spring for his 2-5 encyclopedic knowledge of local history garnered from his years as 2-6 a newspaperman, and he has authored a book on the history of the 2-7 area entitled Getting Started; his erudition proved an invaluable 2-8 asset to the board in carrying out its diverse functions and his 2-9 departure from the district will leave a void that will be 2-10 difficult to fill; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Throughout his remarkable tenure, Joseph Pickle 2-12 contributed immeasurably to the success of the Colorado River 2-13 Municipal Water District and, though his sage presence will be 2-14 sorely missed, his many friends and colleagues will take great 2-15 pleasure in knowing that he is enjoying a happy and well-deserved 2-16 retirement; now, therefore, be it 2-17 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-18 Legislature hereby commend Joseph Pickle for his extraordinary 2-19 service to the Colorado River Municipal Water District and extend 2-20 to him warmest best wishes on the occasion of his retirement; and, 2-21 be it further 2-22 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-23 prepared for Mr. Pickle as an expression of highest regard by the 2-24 Texas House of Representatives.