By Gallego H.R. No. 903 74R12327 SAJ-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Dr. James Franklin Scudday is retiring from his 1-2 position as a biology professor at Sul Ross State University on May 1-3 13, 1995, drawing to a close a distinguished career in the field of 1-4 education that has spanned more than 40 years; and 1-5 WHEREAS, A specialist in vertebrate biology, Dr. Scudday 1-6 earned an undergraduate degree from Sul Ross State University 1-7 before going on to receive a master's degree from the University of 1-8 Idaho and a doctorate from Texas A&M University; and 1-9 WHEREAS, He began his distinguished career as a teacher at 1-10 Fort Stockton High School in 1952, and after serving in the United 1-11 States Army for two years, he returned to the classroom as a 1-12 biology teacher at Andrews High School, where he positively 1-13 affected the lives of countless youths from 1956 to 1962; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Dr. Scudday began his rewarding 33-year association 1-15 with Sul Ross State University in 1962 as a biology instructor; 1-16 well regarded by students and colleagues alike for his 1-17 professionalism, expertise, and dedication, he rose through the 1-18 university's ranks to become a professor; and 1-19 WHEREAS, A certified wildlife biologist, he has made many 1-20 significant contributions to his area of expertise through field 1-21 work in the Southwestern United States and in Northern Mexico, and 1-22 he has conducted important research on the status of rare and 1-23 endangered species of vertebrates and on the ecology of 1-24 white-winged doves in Southwest Texas; in addition, he has 2-1 performed ecological studies in Mexico's Chihuahuan Desert; and 2-2 WHEREAS, Dr. Scudday has continued to work for the benefit of 2-3 his chosen profession as an esteemed member of several professional 2-4 organizations, including the Southwestern Association of 2-5 Naturalists, the American Society of Mammalogists, the American 2-6 Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, and the Chihuahuan 2-7 Desert Research Institute; and 2-8 WHEREAS, He also is active with the Texas Society of 2-9 Mammalogists, the Texas Herpetological Society, the Texas Academy 2-10 of Science, and the state and national chapters of the Wildlife 2-11 Society; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Dr. Scudday's many outstanding contributions as both 2-13 an educator and a wildlife biologist have significantly benefited 2-14 the people of Texas, and he is indeed deserving of special praise 2-15 and recognition on the occasion of his retirement; now, therefore, 2-16 be it 2-17 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-18 Legislature hereby honor Dr. James Franklin Scudday for his many 2-19 years of service as an educator and extend to him warmest best 2-20 wishes for a happy and rewarding retirement; and, be it further 2-21 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-22 prepared for Dr. Scudday as an expression of high regard by the 2-23 Texas House of Representatives.