R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, February 1, 1997, will mark the grand opening of the

 1-2     newly constructed Lumberton Public Library, and this historic

 1-3     milestone in the life of the community is truly an event worthy of

 1-4     special praise and recognition; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, This welcome addition to the city of Lumberton

 1-6     represents years of hard work on the part of numerous citizens from

 1-7     all walks of life, and the successful completion of the project is

 1-8     a tribute to the vision and commitment of its supporters; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, The City of Lumberton demonstrated its commitment to

1-10     this project in 1990 by designating the library a department of the

1-11     city and naming an advisory board, whose members continue to guide

1-12     the library's course today; and

1-13           WHEREAS, In 1991 Lumberton's original library opened in a

1-14     portable building staffed almost entirely by dedicated volunteers,

1-15     and shortly thereafter the Friends of the Lumberton Public Library,

1-16     under the leadership of President Laverne Damos, secured a $50,000

1-17     construction grant from the T. L. L.  Temple Foundation, contingent

1-18     on raising the same amount locally and receiving $100,000 in

1-19     matching funds from the Texas Library System; this generous gift

1-20     provided both a solid foundation for the project and the motivation

1-21     needed to begin a concerted fund-raising effort; and

1-22           WHEREAS, Over the next four years, the people of Lumberton

1-23     and the surrounding area met this challenge in no uncertain terms;

1-24     the community rallied to raise the necessary amount, and

 2-1     contributions of time, effort, and money came from individuals and

 2-2     from civic-minded groups such as the Lumberton Lions Club and the

 2-3     Lumberton Civic Women's League, whose members spearheaded one of

 2-4     the earliest library committees in 1988; and

 2-5           WHEREAS, Their dedicated efforts were richly rewarded when

 2-6     Lumberton became one of six cities in Texas to receive a Title II

 2-7     Library Construction Grant from the Texas Library System; further

 2-8     assistance came from the City of Lumberton's pledge of $100,000 as

 2-9     well as the "Buy-A-Brick" project, which was led by local resident

2-10     Bob Agnew with the able assistance of Roland Cox and Mike Colton;

2-11     and

2-12           WHEREAS, In October 1995, construction of the new building

2-13     began, and the project continued to attract talented volunteers,

2-14     including Dennis Williams, who oversaw the construction of the

2-15     library's parking lot, and the members of the Library Advisory

2-16     Board: Homer Brodeur, Carol Dumatrait, Dr. Betty Iles, Barbara

2-17     Murphy, Willie Soileau, Harold Westmoreland, and Chairman Linda

2-18     Surratt; and

2-19           WHEREAS, With the opening of the Lumberton Public Library

2-20     under the direction of librarian Irene Hegwood, local residents

2-21     will not only have the opportunity to celebrate the worlds of

2-22     literature and learning contained within its walls, but will also

2-23     have a tangible, lasting tribute to the many members of the

2-24     community who have helped to make it a reality, and these

2-25     civic-minded citizens may take justifiable pride in their

2-26     accomplishment; now, therefore, be it

2-27           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 3-1     Legislature hereby congratulate the citizens of Lumberton on the

 3-2     grand opening of the Lumberton Public Library; and, be it further

 3-3           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

 3-4     prepared for display in the Lumberton Public Library as an

 3-5     expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

                                                                     Zbranek

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 46 was adopted by the House on

         January 28, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House