By West                                              H.C.R. No. 290

         75R15415 SAJ-D                           

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature is proud to honor the Reverend

 1-2     Curtis Thorpe on the occasion of his 50th anniversary as pastor of

 1-3     Temple Baptist Church in Odessa; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, A native Texan, he was born to William and Winnie

 1-5     Thorpe on December 9, 1910, and he preached his first sermon at a

 1-6     mine near Carlsbad, New Mexico; and

 1-7           WHEREAS, While a student at Fort Worth's Bible Baptist

 1-8     Seminary, he ministered to a congregation in Jacksboro, and after

 1-9     his graduation in 1942, he became pastor of the Fundamental Baptist

1-10     Church in Fredonia, Kansas; and

1-11           WHEREAS, Reverend Thorpe began his pastorate at Temple

1-12     Baptist Church in September 1947, where he has offered hope and

1-13     understanding to church members for the past five decades; and

1-14           WHEREAS, Under his guidance, the church has experienced a

1-15     welcomed and exceptionally vibrant period of growth; when he began

1-16     his ministry, he preached to 40 individuals in a small building on

1-17     an unpaved road, and today, he stands at the helm of the city's

1-18     largest congregation, with a building complex that spans three city

1-19     blocks; and

1-20           WHEREAS, The church now has a pastoral staff of ten ministers

1-21     who work to address the diverse needs of the community, and their

1-22     good works have enhanced the quality of life in Odessa in myriad

1-23     ways; and

1-24           WHEREAS, A devoted family man, Reverend Thorpe is married to

 2-1     the former Dorothy Fogle, and the couple are the proud parents of

 2-2     Jerry and Paul Thorpe; their family has grown to include their

 2-3     children's spouses, Freddie and Kay Thorpe; their grandchildren,

 2-4     Cheryl Davis, Alan Thorpe, Kyle Thorpe, Darren Thorpe, Damon

 2-5     Thorpe, and Mandy Thorpe; and their great-grandchildren, Neiki and

 2-6     Dustin Davis and Jerilyn Thorpe; and

 2-7           WHEREAS, In Reverend Thorpe, the church has found both a

 2-8     preacher and a stalwart friend for the work of the ministry; his

 2-9     religious guidance has provided comfort and spiritual support to

2-10     countless individuals, and he is indeed worthy of our highest

2-11     praise and recognition as he prepares to celebrate 50 years of

2-12     service to his church; now, therefore, be it

2-13           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

2-14     hereby honor the Reverend Curtis Thorpe and extend to him warmest

2-15     best wishes on the occasion of his 50th anniversary as pastor of

2-16     Temple Baptist Church; and, be it further

2-17           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-18     prepared for Reverend Thorpe as an expression of high regard by the

2-19     Texas House of Representatives and Senate.