By Zbranek                                     H.C.R. No. 154

      75R9189 JHS-D                           

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, The recent passing of the Honorable Oscar F. Nelson,

 1-2     Jr., on February 14, 1997, at the age of 73, has brought a great

 1-3     loss to the family and many friends of this distinguished

 1-4     gentleman; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, A native of Anahuac in Chambers County, Judge Nelson

 1-6     was born on January 28, 1924; he attended Texas A&M University and

 1-7     Sam Houston State University after graduating from the Anahuac

 1-8     school system and proudly served his country in the United States

 1-9     Army during World War II and the Korean War, ultimately achieving

1-10     the rank of captain; and

1-11           WHEREAS, Judge Nelson, a man known for his discretion and

1-12     good counsel as well as an excellent sense of humor, first served

1-13     as county judge from 1962 to 1977, and in 1986 he was reelected to

1-14     this important position; he was well regarded as a businessman and

1-15     was a lifelong proponent of economic development who encouraged

1-16     small and large businesses alike to relocate to Chambers County;

1-17     and

1-18           WHEREAS, This commendable gentleman was named "Citizen of the

1-19     Year" by the Anahuac Area Chamber of Commerce in 1975, and again in

1-20     1995, in recognition of his many efforts in behalf of his home

1-21     county; under his careful leadership, the county constructed a new

1-22     county library, a state-of-the-art solid-waste disposal complex,

1-23     and a golf course and also enlarged the county jail and refurbished

1-24     the county courthouse; and

 2-1           WHEREAS, Oscar F. Nelson, Jr., was a man of rare honor and

 2-2     compassion, and though his guidance and devotion will be missed by

 2-3     all who knew him, his spirit will surely live on in the hearts of

 2-4     the many people whose lives he touched; now, therefore, be it

 2-5           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

 2-6     hereby pay tribute to the life of Oscar F. Nelson, Jr., and extend

 2-7     sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, LaVerne

 2-8     Smith Nelson; to his sons, Randall S. Nelson and W. F.  "Ted"

 2-9     Nelson; to his sister, Margie Nelson Thames; to his brother, Gene

2-10     Nelson; to his five grandchildren and his nieces and nephews; and

2-11     to the many other relatives and friends of this esteemed gentleman;

2-12     and, be it further

2-13           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-14     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas

2-15     House of Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in

2-16     memory of the Honorable Oscar F. Nelson, Jr.