HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, This year marks the 50th anniversary of the

 1-2     establishment of Fort Bend County's first library, and on May 18,

 1-3     1997, the citizens of this fine county will come together to

 1-4     commemorate this noteworthy occasion; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, On May 12, 1947, the members of the Share-a-Book

 1-6     Club, a group of 12 women from Rosenberg and Richmond, received the

 1-7     approval of the commissioners court for the creation of a library

 1-8     and the purchase of a bookmobile to serve the residents of Fort

 1-9     Bend County; and

1-10           WHEREAS, Originally housed in the Rosenberg City Hall, the

1-11     first library building, which opened on July 7, 1949, was located

1-12     on land that was generously donated by Albert and Mamie George; 25

1-13     years later, two branches honoring these benefactors, the Mamie

1-14     George Branch in Stafford and the Albert George Branch in

1-15     Needville, were added to the library system, and in 1986, the

1-16     current library was completed; and

1-17           WHEREAS, Today, the Fort Bend County Library System boasts

1-18     additional branches in Missouri City and First Colony, as well as a

1-19     mini-branch for the residents of Simonton and Fulshear; in

1-20     addition, the library system operates the County Law Library and

1-21     several Distance Learning and Telecommunications Centers in Fort

1-22     Bend County; and

1-23           WHEREAS, Among the surviving members of the Share-a-Book Club

1-24     who will be in attendance at the anniversary ceremony are

 2-1     Mrs. Mayde Waddell Butler, Mrs. Lillian Meyer, Mrs. Kathleen

 2-2     Lindsey, Mrs. Marjorie Balke Vogelsang, and Mrs. Doris Erwin;

 2-3     equally important to the success of the library, but unable to

 2-4     participate, are Mrs. Fern Garmany and Mrs. Viola Yates, while

 2-5     descendants of cofounders Emma Lee Schawe Dickerson, Mrs. Alvin E.

 2-6     Hockmuth, Maude Wallace Knipling, Ruth Beckmann Schult, and

 2-7     Mrs. Angela Joeger McNutt will also be present, in a display of

 2-8     community spirit that is sure to touch the hearts of all who take

 2-9     part in this special event; and

2-10           WHEREAS, What began as a dream of 12 women who recognized the

2-11     power of the written word and the need to make books available to

2-12     everyone has evolved into an enterprise that now touches the lives

2-13     of hundreds of individuals each day, and this accomplishment is

2-14     truly deserving of special legislative recognition; now, therefore,

2-15     be it

2-16           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

2-17     hereby commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Fort Bend County

2-18     Library System and extend to the directors and surviving founders

2-19     of this exemplary organization sincere best wishes for continued

2-20     success in the future; and, be it further

2-21           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-22     prepared for the founders and directors of the Fort Bend County

2-23     Library System as an expression of high regard by the Texas House

2-24     of Representatives and Senate.

                                                                       Olivo

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.C.R. No. 253 was adopted by the House on May

         13, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.C.R. No. 253 was adopted by the Senate on

         May 15, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor