R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The passing of Helen Frances Riddle Witt on January
1-2 10, 1997, at the age of 81, has brought a great loss to the family
1-3 and many friends of this esteemed Texan; and
1-4 WHEREAS, She was born to Odis and Effie Riddle on September
1-5 19, 1915, in Joshua; the fifth of seven children, she learned from
1-6 an early age the importance of love, sharing, and commitment, and
1-7 relied on her strong value system and utmost faith in the Lord to
1-8 meet life's challenges; and
1-9 WHEREAS, In her youth, Mrs. Witt and her twin sister, Ellen,
1-10 were accomplished singers known as The Harmony Twins; they
1-11 delighted their many fans with performances on the radio and
1-12 television, and went on to sing with such popular entertainers as
1-13 Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, W. Lee O'Daniel, and The Light
1-14 Crust Doughboys; and
1-15 WHEREAS, In addition, Mrs. Witt will also be remembered as a
1-16 patriotic individual who admirably served her country during World
1-17 War II through her involvement with the United Service
1-18 Organizations, Inc., having drawn on her lovely voice to make the
1-19 days a little brighter for the members of our nation's armed
1-20 forces; and
1-21 WHEREAS, The Americanism Chair for her Veterans of Foreign
1-22 Wars Auxiliary, she helped to establish an annual Memorial Day
1-23 veterans service in her community and organized recognition and
1-24 award ceremonies for local police and firefighters; known to young
2-1 people throughout the area as "the flag lady," she devoted
2-2 countless hours to teaching schoolchildren the history of our
2-3 nation's flag and of the individuals who fought and gave their
2-4 lives to keep it flying; and
2-5 WHEREAS, In all her endeavors, she was sustained by a deep
2-6 and abiding commitment to her family, and her devotion to her
2-7 husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren was an
2-8 inspiration to a great many people; and
2-9 WHEREAS, During her lifetime, Helen Witt touched the lives of
2-10 many people, and though her presence will be deeply missed, her
2-11 memory will surely endure in the hearts and minds of all who knew
2-12 and loved her; now, therefore, be it
2-13 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas
2-14 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Helen Frances Riddle
2-15 Witt and extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to
2-16 her devoted husband of 50 years, Orville Lee Witt; to her son,
2-17 Kenneth Lee Witt; to her daughter, Ellen Janette Witt Steppick; to
2-18 her brother, Jack C. Riddle; to her grandchildren and
2-19 great-grandchildren; and to the many other friends and family of
2-20 this beloved woman; and, be it further
2-21 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-22 prepared for the members of her family and that when the Texas
2-23 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
2-24 Helen Frances Riddle Witt.
Brimer
Laney Gutierrez Oliveira
Alexander Haggerty Olivo
Allen Hamric Palmer
Alvarado Hartnett Patterson
Averitt Hawley Pickett
Bailey Heflin Pitts
Berlanga Hernandez Place
Bonnen Hightower Price
Bosse Hilbert Puente
Brimer Hilderbran Rabuck
Burnam Hill Ramsay
Carter Hinojosa Rangel
Chavez Hirschi Raymond
Chisum Hochberg Reyna of Bexar
Christian Hodge Reyna of Dallas
Clark Holzheauser Rhodes
Coleman Horn Rodriguez
Cook Howard Roman
Corte Hunter Sadler
Counts Hupp Seaman
Crabb Isett Serna
Craddick Jackson Shields
Cuellar Janek Siebert
Culberson Jones of Lubbock Smith
Danburg Jones of Dallas Smithee
Davila Junell Solis
Davis Kamel Solomons
Delisi Keel Staples
Denny Keffer Stiles
Driver King Swinford
Dukes Krusee Talton
Dunnam Kubiak Telford
Dutton Kuempel Thompson
Edwards Lewis of Tarrant Tillery
Ehrhardt Lewis of Orange Torres
Eiland Longoria Turner of Coleman
Elkins Luna Turner of Harris
Farrar McCall Uher
Finnell McClendon Van de Putte
Flores McReynolds Walker
Gallego Madden West
Galloway Marchant Williams
Garcia Maxey Williamson
Giddings Merritt Wilson
Glaze Moffat Wise
Goodman Moreno Wohlgemuth
Goolsby Mowery Wolens
Gray Naishtat Woolley
Greenberg Nixon Yarbrough
Grusendorf Oakley Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 153 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on February 20, 1997.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House