By West                                          H.R. No. 198

      75R5820 WMS-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of Frederick W. "Rick" Volker, Jr., on

 1-2     December 28, 1995, at the age of 48, brought a great loss to the

 1-3     many friends and family of this esteemed Odessa resident; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, Born July 13, 1947, in Norman, Oklahoma, he attended

 1-5     the University of Maryland in Munich, Germany, the University of

 1-6     Oklahoma, and Central State University, where he earned his

 1-7     bachelor's degree in business administration; and

 1-8           WHEREAS, In 1971 Mr. Volker took as his bride the former Ann

 1-9     McCune and in 1977 the couple moved from Oklahoma to Odessa, where

1-10     he became a valued employee of City Pipe and Supply Corporation;

1-11     and

1-12           WHEREAS, Although stricken with lymphoma for more than a

1-13     decade, this inspirational individual maintained a positive outlook

1-14     on life throughout the course of his illness and constantly placed

1-15     the needs of others above his own; and

1-16           WHEREAS, A deacon and Sunday school teacher at the First

1-17     Baptist Church, Mr. Volker took the stage each year as one of the

1-18     magi in the drama portion of the church's annual Living Christmas

1-19     Tree presentation, and he insisted on performing in the yuletide

1-20     pageant even when his health was failing; and

1-21           WHEREAS, Mr. Volker also contributed to the betterment of his

1-22     community through his active participation in a number of worthy

1-23     organizations, including Sertoma, the United Way Allocations

1-24     Committee, Junior Achievement, the National Association of Credit

 2-1     Managers, the Texas Association of Businesses, and the Reagan

 2-2     Elementary School PTA, which honored his many contributions with a

 2-3     life membership in the Texas PTA; and

 2-4           WHEREAS, Rick Volker was a man of rare courage and

 2-5     generosity; although his warmth and wisdom are gone from us now,

 2-6     his remarkable spirit surely lives on in the hearts of the many

 2-7     people whose lives he touched during his time on this earth; now,

 2-8     therefore, be it

 2-9           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-10     Legislature hereby honor the life of Frederick W. "Rick" Volker,

2-11     Jr., and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to

2-12     his wife, Ann Volker; to his daughters, Jenny Volker and Rebecca

2-13     Volker; to his parents F. W. and Elinor Volker; to his sisters and

2-14     brother-in-law, Jeani Volker and Sally and Dennis Burdette; to his

2-15     nephews, Brian and Patrick Burdette; and to the many other friends

2-16     and relatives of this beloved man; and, be it further

2-17           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-18     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas

2-19     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of

2-20     Frederick W. "Rick" Volker, Jr.