By Olivo H.C.R. No. 253 75R14012 JHS-D 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.