By: Cain S.R. No. 902 1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION 1-2 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pride in 1-3 recognizing Kathleen Hill Becknell, who is being honored on 1-4 Rains County Founders Day on May 6, 1995; and 1-5 WHEREAS, An outstanding citizen who has deep roots in 1-6 Rains County, Kathleen "Kat" Becknell is editor and owner of 1-7 the Rains County Leader, a weekly publication that serves 1-8 five counties and has a circulation of 3,250; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Born in Emory in 1907, Kathleen graduated from 1-10 high school in 1926 and soon began to be active in county affairs; 1-11 she quickly proved to be a leader in her community, and during the 1-12 1930s she was Rains County chairperson for the Red Cross and served 1-13 as chairperson for the War Bond drive during World War II; and 1-14 WHEREAS, She is a charter member of the Point Ladies Civic 1-15 Club and the Rains Garden Club and served as president of the 1-16 Texas Women's Press District 12 in the 1960s; and 1-17 WHEREAS, The first newspaper published in Rains County 1-18 was The Argus, later called The Record; before 1900, the paper 1-19 was sold to A. S. Hornbeck and was renamed the Rains County Leader; 1-20 it was sold to Tom W. Hill, Sr., in 1909 and has remained in the 1-21 Hill family ever since; and 1-22 WHEREAS, In 1962, Kathleen, daughter of Tom W. Hill, Sr., 1-23 became editor and publisher; the paper is the only one published 2-1 in Rains County and has been established as the county's oldest 2-2 continuing business institution; and 2-3 WHEREAS, A witness to life in Rains County in the early 2-4 1900s, Kat Becknell enjoys reminiscing and recalls spending time 2-5 on Saturday afternoons at the local post office and driving with 2-6 her family in their 1920s Ford touring car that had curtains 2-7 instead of glass in the windows; and 2-8 WHEREAS, Kathleen Hill Becknell is an exemplary lady who is 2-9 beloved and respected by the people of Rains County; an individual 2-10 with an engaging personality who enjoys sharing the history of the 2-11 area with others, Kat is a greatly treasured Rains County citizen; 2-12 now, therefore, be it 2-13 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-14 74th Legislature, hereby commend Kathleen Hill Becknell on her 2-15 many accomplishments and express appreciation to her for her many 2-16 contributions to the residents of Rains County; and, be it further 2-17 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for her 2-18 as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. 2-19 ______________________________________ 2-20 President of the Senate 2-21 I hereby certify that the above 2-22 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 2-23 on May 3, 1995. 2-24 ______________________________________ 2-25 Secretary of the Senate 3-1 ______________________________________ 3-2 Member, Texas Senate