R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The recent passing of A. B. "Stormy" Shelton of
1-2 Abilene on January 16, 1997, at the age of 82, has brought a great
1-3 loss to the many friends and relatives of this beloved businessman,
1-4 civic leader, and philanthropist; and
1-5 WHEREAS, A native Texan, Mr. Shelton relocated from Harlingen
1-6 to Abilene in the 1930s to pursue his higher education at
1-7 Hardin-Simmons University; while attending there, he took a
1-8 position as an advertising salesman with the Abilene Reporter-News
1-9 in 1935, beginning an association with that publication that would
1-10 span more than half a century; and
1-11 WHEREAS, At the onset of World War II, this outstanding
1-12 patriot answered his country's call to arms, serving his nation
1-13 with distinction as a captain with the 84th Infantry Division, and
1-14 his heroic actions in the European Theater of Operations earned him
1-15 the Bronze Star; and
1-16 WHEREAS, On completing his military service, Mr. Shelton
1-17 returned to the Abilene Reporter-News and his remarkable publishing
1-18 instincts enabled him to pursue a brilliant career with the paper;
1-19 rising through the ranks, he held increasingly responsible
1-20 positions, eventually becoming president and publisher, and finally
1-21 chairman of the Abilene Reporter-News board of directors, bringing
1-22 to each post the dedication and impartiality that were the
1-23 hallmark of all his many endeavors; and
1-24 WHEREAS, In addition to his work with the Abilene
2-1 Reporter-News, he also played a pivotal role as a director of
2-2 Harte-Hanks Communications, Inc., the newspaper's parent company,
2-3 and helped to guide that enterprise through the turbulent financial
2-4 period of the 1970s and 1980s; and
2-5 WHEREAS, Indicative of the esteem in which he was held by
2-6 state leaders, Mr. Shelton was appointed by Governor John Connally
2-7 to serve on the Texas Water Commission and by Governor Preston
2-8 Smith to be a member of the Texas Industrial Commission; and
2-9 WHEREAS, Mr. Shelton insisted on sharing the benefits of his
2-10 labors with others and gave freely of his time, energy, and
2-11 resources to benefit the West Texas Rehabilitation Center, Hendrick
2-12 Medical Center, Hardin-Simmons University, the YMCA, the YWCA, and
2-13 the Abilene Chamber of Commerce; and
2-14 WHEREAS, He received many well-deserved accolades for his
2-15 ceaseless efforts in behalf of his fellow citizens, including an
2-16 Outstanding Citizen of the Year award from the Abilene Chamber of
2-17 Commerce, the AIDE Award given by the Texas Industrial Commission,
2-18 a Volunteer Service Award from the United Way of Abilene, and a
2-19 Special Folks Award from Disability Resources, Inc.; most recently,
2-20 the Hendricks Ambulatory Surgery and Radiation Therapy Building was
2-21 named in his honor; and
2-22 WHEREAS, Married to the former Patty Hanks from 1940 until
2-23 her passing in 1986, Mr. Shelton was blessed to find happiness
2-24 again when he was united in marriage with his second wife, Ruby;
2-25 and
2-26 WHEREAS, A man of rare vision and generosity, "Stormy"
2-27 Shelton will long be remembered by all who were privileged to know
3-1 him; though his presence is gone from us now, his remarkable spirit
3-2 will continue to live on in the hearts of the many people whose
3-3 lives he touched during his time on this earth; now, therefore, be
3-4 it
3-5 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas
3-6 Legislature hereby honor the life of A. B. "Stormy" Shelton and
3-7 extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife,
3-8 Ruby Shelton; to his daughters and sons-in-law, Sharon and Leonard
3-9 Hoffman, Sindy and David Durham, and Scottie Ann and Steve Wade; to
3-10 his grandchildren, Christine Nichols, Wendy Durham, and Andy
3-11 Durham; and to the many other friends and relatives of this
3-12 esteemed gentleman; and, be it further
3-13 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-14 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
3-15 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
3-16 A. B. "Stormy" Shelton.
Hunter
Laney Gutierrez Ogden
Alexander Haggerty Oliveira
Allen Hamric Olivo
Alvarado Hartnett Palmer
Averitt Hawley Patterson
Bailey Heflin Pickett
Berlanga Hernandez Pitts
Bonnen Hightower Place
Bosse Hilbert Price
Brimer Hilderbran Puente
Burnam Hill Rabuck
Carter Hinojosa Ramsay
Chavez Hirschi Rangel
Chisum Hochberg Raymond
Christian Hodge Reyna of Bexar
Clark Holzheauser Reyna of Dallas
Coleman Horn Rhodes
Cook Howard Rodriguez
Corte Hupp Sadler
Counts Isett Seaman
Crabb Jackson Serna
Craddick Janek Shields
Cuellar Jones of Lubbock Siebert
Culberson Jones of Dallas Smith
Danburg Junell Smithee
Davila Kamel Solis
Davis Keel Solomons
Delisi Keffer Staples
Denny King Stiles
Driver Krusee Swinford
Dukes Kubiak Talton
Dunnam Kuempel Telford
Dutton Lewis of Tarrant Thompson
Edwards Lewis of Orange Tillery
Ehrhardt Longoria Torres
Eiland Luna Turner of Coleman
Elkins McCall Turner of Harris
Farrar McClendon Uher
Finnell McReynolds Van de Putte
Flores Madden Walker
Gallego Marchant West
Galloway Maxey Williams
Garcia Merritt Williamson
Giddings Moffat Wilson
Glaze Moreno Wise
Goodman Mowery Wohlgemuth
Goolsby Naishtat Wolens
Gray Nixon Woolley
Greenberg Oakley Yarbrough
Grusendorf Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 41 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on February 3, 1997.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House