By West                                              H.C.R. No. 298

         75R16003 JTR-D                           

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, The family and many friends of the Honorable W. G.

 1-2     "Cotton" Kirklin were greatly saddened by his death on May 7, 1997,

 1-3     at the age of 85, and we join them in mourning their great loss;

 1-4     and

 1-5           WHEREAS, A graduate of Baylor University, Mr. Kirklin served

 1-6     with distinction in the United States Army during World War II,

 1-7     earning a battlefield promotion to the rank of captain before

 1-8     returning to Texas; an oilman and farmer, he was a partner in

 1-9     Kirklin and Kirklin Drilling Company; and

1-10           WHEREAS, From 1953 to 1957, Mr. Kirklin served in the Texas

1-11     House of Representatives, and during the 53rd and 54th legislative

1-12     sessions he lent his wide breadth of experience and wealth of

1-13     common sense to the house standing committees on common carriers;

1-14     federal relations; military and veterans' affairs; motor traffic;

1-15     oil, gas, and mining; state affairs; and revenue and taxation,

1-16     which he served as a co-chair; and

1-17           WHEREAS, A respected and trusted administrator, Mr. Kirklin

1-18     was appointed by Governor Allan Shivers to the Board for Texas

1-19     State Hospitals and Special Schools and was reappointed to the

1-20     board by Governor Price Daniel; named assistant commissioner of the

1-21     newly created Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental

1-22     Retardation in 1965, he served there until his retirement in 1977,

1-23     and he then chaired the Texas Health Facilities Commission from

1-24     1983 to 1986; and

 2-1           WHEREAS, Throughout his life, W. G. Kirklin distinguished

 2-2     himself as a dedicated public servant, and although he will be

 2-3     deeply missed, his spirit will surely live on in all those who knew

 2-4     him; now, therefore, be it

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

 2-6     hereby honor the memory of W. G. "Cotton" Kirklin and extend

 2-7     sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his sons, Layton

 2-8     Kirklin and Donald Frank Kirklin; to his grandchildren, Joseph

 2-9     Connell Kirklin, Mrs. Mark McMahan, Bradley Kirklin, and Meaghan

2-10     Kirklin; to his nephews, Dan Kirklin and Gene Rumbaugh; to his

2-11     niece, Mary Helen Grant; to his cousin, J. B. Kirklin; and to his

2-12     other family members and friends; 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 W. G. "Cotton" Kirklin.