By Heflin H.R. No. 244 Line and page numbers may not match official copy. Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E. R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, On March 2nd, 1997, the Alief Independent School 1-2 District will dedicate the opening of Howard J. Hicks Elementary 1-3 School; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Born on May 15, 1914 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and now 1-5 a resident of Houston by way of Beaumont, Howard Hicks has spent 1-6 the first 82 years of his life in dedication to his faith, his 1-7 family, his country, and his community; and 1-8 WHEREAS, In each endeavor he has undertaken, be it 1-9 newspaperman, chamber of commerce executive, bank executive, 1-10 insurance company executive, oil & gas wildcatter, LCS Commander 1-11 for the United States Navy in World War II, tireless worker, 1-12 leader, and in many cases founding member, of various community 1-13 groups, with his most recent active memberships including the Alief 1-14 Noon Lions Club, Alief Community Association, the Alief Cemetery 1-15 Historical Society, chairmanships in both the Alief 130th 1-16 Anniversary and the Alief Post Office 100th Birthday organizations, 1-17 or district aide to Representative Talmadge Heflin, a post he has 1-18 held for the past eleven years, Howard Hicks has always 1-19 distinguished himself as one of the more active and caring 1-20 individuals one could possibly hope to encounter; and 1-21 WHEREAS, Despite his routinely busy schedule, Howard still 2-1 finds time to be a loving father, a doting grandfather, and a 2-2 devoted great-grandfather; he rounds out the rest of his schedule 2-3 by soundly whipping people half his age, and some younger than 2-4 that, on the golf course, and is a multiple champion of both golf 2-5 and horseshoes in regional and state competition in the Senior 2-6 Games; and 2-7 WHEREAS, For the better part of the past 60 years, on the 2-8 many occasions that have arisen in Beaumont, Houston, and Alief 2-9 which required leadership, energy, action, and a neighborly 2-10 attitude to determine and achieve the common good in the community, 2-11 Howard Hicks has provided all these characteristics in abundant 2-12 supply; and 2-13 WHEREAS, His longstanding commitment to service has garnered 2-14 him awards and commendations almost too numerous to document, the 2-15 latest of these honors being the opening of the elementary school 2-16 that bears his name; and 2-17 WHEREAS, Ever true to form, Howard Hicks has taken on the 2-18 students of Howard J. Hicks Elementary School as his own, with 2-19 almost daily visits for reading sessions, friendly chats, and 2-20 attention to those with special needs; now, therefore, be it 2-21 RESOLVED, That the Texas House of Representatives of the 75th 2-22 Legislature take this time out today to congratulate and honor one 2-23 of the most beloved members of the Alief community, Mr. Howard J. 2-24 Hicks; and, be it further 2-25 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-1 prepared for Mr. Hicks as an expression of high regard by the Texas 3-2 House of Representatives.