H.R. No. 860
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The community of Killeen has suffered a profound
    1-2  loss with the passing of retired Major Mary Margaret Purcell on
    1-3  March 19, 1995, at the age of 67; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, A native of Harrisonburg, Virginia, she earned her
    1-5  undergraduate degree from Madison College in 1950 and was employed
    1-6  as a schoolteacher until February 9, 1954, when she enlisted in the
    1-7  U.S. Army; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, Assigned to the Adjutant General Corps, Major
    1-9  Purcell received specialized training in the field of personnel
   1-10  management and the French language and enjoyed a number of
   1-11  challenging assignments before being stationed at Fort Hood in
   1-12  1969; and
   1-13        WHEREAS, During her distinguished tenure there, Major Purcell
   1-14  was placed in charge of the III Corps and Fort Hood's Personnel
   1-15  Transfer Station, in which capacity she was responsible for
   1-16  processing people who were being discharged from the military,
   1-17  including countless Vietnam veterans; and
   1-18        WHEREAS, On April 30, 1974, this dedicated officer retired
   1-19  from the armed forces herself, having attained the grade of major
   1-20  and a number of well-deserved honors, including the National
   1-21  Defense Service Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster and the Meritorious
   1-22  Service Medal; and
   1-23        WHEREAS, Rather than restricting her activities, retirement
   1-24  gave her even more time to devote to her interest in local affairs,
    2-1  and she demonstrated her genuine desire to benefit others by
    2-2  volunteering her services to numerous military and civic-oriented
    2-3  organizations and committees, including the Fort Hood Area Retiree
    2-4  Council, the Killeen Civic Art Guild, the St. Joseph School Board,
    2-5  the board of the Central Texas Chapter of the Retired Officers
    2-6  Association, the Fort Hood Officers Club and Advisory Council, and
    2-7  others too numerous to mention; and
    2-8        WHEREAS, In 1994, Major Purcell was honored by area residents
    2-9  for the many significant contributions she made to the betterment
   2-10  of her community when she was named the recipient of the "Hometown
   2-11  Hero" award by the Killeen Chamber of Commerce; and
   2-12        WHEREAS, In all aspects of her life, Major Mary Margaret
   2-13  Purcell showed herself to be a person of tremendous integrity whose
   2-14  strong sense of duty served as a proud reflection of her dedication
   2-15  to the ideals of freedom and democracy; whether serving her country
   2-16  or her community, this remarkable woman will long be remembered for
   2-17  the lasting legacy of achievement she leaves behind; now,
   2-18  therefore, be it
   2-19        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-20  Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of retired Major Mary
   2-21  Margaret Purcell and extend sincere sympathy to her sister,
   2-22  Kathleen Gordon of Harrisonburg, and to the many other friends and
   2-23  relatives of this esteemed individual; and, be it further
   2-24        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-25  prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of
   2-26  Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Major
   2-27  Purcell.