R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, Juan D. Nichols has devoted his life to serving the

 1-2     residents of East Texas, and his dedication to his fellow citizens

 1-3     is indeed worthy of special legislative recognition; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, A native Texan, Mr. Nichols was born in the Wood

 1-5     County town of Coke in 1931; after graduating from Winnsboro High

 1-6     School, he attended East Texas State University, where he earned a

 1-7     bachelor's degree in agribusiness; and

 1-8           WHEREAS, Mr. Nichols is a veteran of the United States Navy

 1-9     and has been employed by Wood County Electric Cooperative, Inc.,

1-10     since 1962; he was appointed general manager in 1968, and during

1-11     his tenure, this visionary individual has helped to transform the

1-12     cooperative from a relatively small venture to a company that today

1-13     ranks as an industry leader, serving more than 24,000 residents;

1-14     and

1-15           WHEREAS, By recognizing the needs of the cooperative's

1-16     members, Mr. Nichols has continued to upgrade and improve services

1-17     while still supplying competitively priced power; his leadership

1-18     efforts with other area distribution cooperatives have helped

1-19     create organizations such as Tex-La Electric Cooperative of Texas,

1-20     Inc., which Mr. Nichols served as president until his recent

1-21     retirement; and

1-22           WHEREAS, This esteemed gentleman was also instrumental in the

1-23     formation of East Texas Electric Cooperative, Inc., which oversees

1-24     10 regional cooperatives and has capably served as an officer for

 2-1     Northeast Texas Electric Cooperative, Inc.; efforts such as these

 2-2     have greatly benefited the residents of East Texas and demonstrate

 2-3     Mr. Nichols' commitment to providing quality electrical service to

 2-4     his fellow citizens; and

 2-5           WHEREAS, This dedicated individual contributes to his

 2-6     community in many other ways; he has served as director of the

 2-7     Carroll Green Civic Center, president of the board of trustees of

 2-8     the Quitman Independent School District, chairman of the

 2-9     administrative board, Sunday school teacher at First United

2-10     Methodist Church, and member of the board of directors of the

2-11     Quitman Public Library; in addition, he is a member of the Flora

2-12     Masonic Lodge and the Quitman Rotary Club, and he has helped

2-13     promote the economic growth of his community as chairman of the

2-14     board of the First National Bank of Quitman and as director of the

2-15     East Texas Economic Development Council and the Quitman Chamber of

2-16     Commerce; and

2-17           WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Nichols has been aided by

2-18     his wife, Jerry, and his son and daughters, whose love and support

2-19     have allowed him to devote his considerable energies to creating a

2-20     better future for his family, friends, and neighbors; now,

2-21     therefore, be it

2-22           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-23     Legislature hereby honor Juan D. Nichols for his outstanding

2-24     community service and extend to him sincere best wishes for

2-25     continued success and happiness in the years to come; and, be it

2-26     further

2-27           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

 3-1     prepared for Mr. Nichols as an expression of high regard by the

 3-2     Texas House of Representatives.

                                                                      Ramsay

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 157 was adopted by the House on

         February 17, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House