By Gallego H.R. No. 873 74R12545 PFG-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, On May 13, 1995, Samuel Eugene Davis will be 1-2 retiring from his duties as a professor of music at Sul Ross State 1-3 University in Alpine, drawing to a close a distinguished academic 1-4 career that has spanned more than three decades; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Born in Dillon, Montana, Dr. Davis was graduated 1-6 with honors from the University of Montana in Missoula and entered 1-7 the United States Air Force after completing his undergraduate 1-8 education; during his military service, he was stationed at Scott 1-9 Air Force Base, where he distinguished himself as a special 1-10 services officer and as the assistant band director of the 3310th 1-11 Air Force Band; and 1-12 WHEREAS, A talented musician, he enrolled in the Manhattan 1-13 School of Music after his discharge from the military and earned 1-14 his master's degree in applied music there in 1958; he worked as a 1-15 professional musician in the city for a year before returning to 1-16 the University of Montana to begin his rewarding career as a music 1-17 professor, which over the course of the next several years took him 1-18 to teaching posts throughout the northwestern United States and 1-19 Canada; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Returning to his hometown of Dillon in 1965, he 1-21 joined the faculty of Western Montana College as an assistant 1-22 professor of music and four years later was selected to chair the 1-23 music department, lending able guidance to his peers in the 1-24 department in that demanding role; and 2-1 WHEREAS, In 1975, Dr. Davis accepted a challenging new post 2-2 in Texas with Sul Ross State University as chairman of the fine 2-3 arts department and a music professor, in which capacities he 2-4 earned the admiration of students and colleagues alike for his 2-5 exceptional teaching and administrative abilities; within two 2-6 years, he was named chairman of the music department and dean of 2-7 the division of fine arts, posts at which he performed admirably 2-8 for close to a decade; and 2-9 WHEREAS, In recent years, this gifted instructor has focused 2-10 his talents in the classroom environment, and he has been popular 2-11 among the student body for his dedication to teaching and his 2-12 mastery of all aspects of music performance and theory; and 2-13 WHEREAS, During his outstanding career, Samuel Davis has 2-14 profoundly influenced the artistic development of countless 2-15 students at Sul Ross State University while helping to shape the 2-16 destiny of this fine institution; in light of his extraordinary 2-17 accomplishments, he is indeed deserving of special praise and 2-18 acknowledgement on the occasion of his retirement; now, therefore, 2-19 be it 2-20 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-21 Legislature hereby commend Samuel Eugene Davis for his exemplary 2-22 service to Sul Ross State University and extend sincere best 2-23 wishes to him for continued happiness in the years to come; and, be 2-24 it further 2-25 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-26 prepared for Dr. Davis as an expression of highest regard by the 2-27 Texas House of Representatives.