By Hunter                                         H.R. No. 41

      75R4282 WMS-D                           

                                 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.