By Brimer                                        H.R. No. 153

      75R5188 SAJ-D                           

                                 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.