By: Turner S.R. No. 593 1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION 1-2 WHEREAS, Nasinec, the state's only weekly Czech-language 1-3 newspaper, is celebrating 80 years of publication as a forum for 1-4 Czech-speaking people nationwide to write about their heritage; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Josef Najvar began publication of the newspaper in 1-6 1914 in Hallettsville for those of Czech descent, but he soon died 1-7 leaving his wife, Clara, in charge of the newspaper; Clara moved 1-8 the paper to Taylor in 1916, and in 1918, it was adopted by the 1-9 Czech Catholic Union of Texas as its official publication, an honor 1-10 it retains today; and 1-11 WHEREAS, In 1937 the paper was moved to Granger when several 1-12 Granger residents bought the Nasinec and formed the Nasinec 1-13 Publishing Company; during this period, Granger was 90 percent 1-14 Czechoslovakian, and the newspaper had a circulation of 4,000; and 1-15 WHEREAS, When the board of the publishing company elected 1-16 to discontinue the publication and sell its assets in 1981, 1-17 Joe Vrabel bought the company and resumed publication within two 1-18 weeks; Mr. Vrabel began working for the Nasinec in 1958 and was 1-19 interested in continuing the popular paper; and 1-20 WHEREAS, By printing business cards, stationery, and 1-21 Czech-language plastic-backed books, Mr. Vrabel has diversified 1-22 his business and Nasinec has continued to survive through 1-23 subscriptions, advertising revenue, and private donations; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Subscribers, who provide much of the newspaper's 2-2 copy, write about events in their own lives as well as their native 2-3 land; readers are scattered around Texas and the United States as 2-4 well as Czechoslovakia; and 2-5 WHEREAS, Joe Vrabel types, edits, and manages the Nasinec, 2-6 or "Fellow Countrymen," with the assistance of Otilie Maresh, whose 2-7 husband was a former editor of the paper, and her sister-in-law, 2-8 Marie Maresh; and 2-9 WHEREAS, Although younger generations are not all taught the 2-10 language and customs of their ancestors, Joe Vrabel is providing a 2-11 valuable service for many people of Czech descent; now, therefore, 2-12 be it 2-13 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-14 74th Legislature, hereby recognize the Nasinec on the grand occasion 2-15 of its 80th birthday and commend Joe Vrabel for his dedication to 2-16 its continuation; and, be it further 2-17 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as a 2-18 memento of this important milestone with all best wishes for the 2-19 future from the Texas Senate. 2-20 ______________________________________ 2-21 President of the Senate 2-22 I hereby certify that the above 2-23 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 2-24 on April 3, 1995. 2-25 ______________________________________ 3-1 Secretary of the Senate 3-2 ______________________________________ 3-3 Member, Texas Senate