R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of Homer G. Olsen on February 9, 1997,

 1-2     at the age of 88, has deeply saddened all who knew and admired this

 1-3     legendary newspaper columnist; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, Born in Austin on March 29, 1908, to Lawrence and

 1-5     Cecelia Olsen, this native Texan remained a lifelong resident of

 1-6     the city he was proud to call home; a graduate of Austin High

 1-7     School, he attended The University of Texas at Austin before taking

 1-8     his first position in the field of journalism as a cub reporter for

 1-9     the Austin Statesman in 1928; and

1-10           WHEREAS, For close to half a century, Mr. Olsen was an

1-11     integral member of the Statesman staff, serving as copydesk editor,

1-12     general reporter, editorial page editor, and sports editor before

1-13     retiring in 1975; over the course of his long affiliation, this

1-14     respected journalist took breaks from his work at the paper to

1-15     serve as the press secretary for James Allred during his successful

1-16     bid for governor in 1934 and later to serve as a reporter for the

1-17     Associated Press; and

1-18           WHEREAS, A member of the Capitol Press Corps as well,

1-19     Mr. Olsen covered activities of the Texas Legislature for various

1-20     newspapers across the state and, together with his long-time

1-21     associate Stuart Long, he edited and published the Austin Insurance

1-22     Report for more than 30 years; and

1-23           WHEREAS, Managing to combine business with pleasure, this

1-24     well-known music aficionado and history buff reviewed jazz

 2-1     performances for several years in his popular "Jazz Beat" column,

 2-2     authored a series of columns entitled "Austin Remembered" on the

 2-3     history of his beloved native city, and published a collection of

 2-4     his writing, entitled Pieces and Bits, to the delight of his family

 2-5     and friends; and

 2-6           WHEREAS, Despite the many irons he had in the fire, this

 2-7     caring gentleman always placed the needs of his family at the top

 2-8     of his list of priorities, for he was a devoted husband, loving

 2-9     father, and doting grandfather who provided his loved ones with a

2-10     steady supply of humor, affection, and kindness throughout the

2-11     years; and

2-12           WHEREAS, In all aspects of his life, Homer Olsen set high

2-13     standards to which others can aspire and, though his presence is

2-14     gone from us now, his memory will long endure in the hearts and

2-15     minds of the many people whose lives he touched; now, therefore, be

2-16     it

2-17           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-18     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Homer G. Olsen and

2-19     extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family:  to his wife

2-20     of 60 years, Florence Olsen; to his daughter, Marilyn Potvin; to

2-21     his son and daughter-in-law, Lawrence and Carolyn Olsen; to his

2-22     son-in-law, Ted Nagel; to his grandchildren and

2-23     great-grandchildren; and to the many other friends and relatives of

2-24     this fine man; and, be it further

2-25           RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared

2-26     for the members of his family and that when the Texas House of

2-27     Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Homer G.

 3-1     Olsen.

                                                                       Laney

                                                                   Alexander

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 161 was unanimously adopted by a

         rising vote of the House on March 20, 1997.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House