R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The family and many friends of George Conway Abney

 1-2     were greatly saddened by his passing on September 10, 1996, at the

 1-3     age of 70; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, A native of East Texas, Conway Abney learned to grow

 1-5     rice from his father and grandfather, and his lifetime of

 1-6     accumulated knowledge and experience has now been handed on to his

 1-7     oldest sons, who continue to uphold the family tradition as

 1-8     fourth-generation rice farmers; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, A United States Marine during World War II,

1-10     Mr. Abney  throughout his life gave freely of himself to his

1-11     country and his community; among other distinctions, he served as

1-12     deacon at the First Baptist Church and president of the Jefferson

1-13     County Farm Bureau, and was an original member of the Nome

1-14     Volunteer Fire Department and the Nome City Council; and

1-15           WHEREAS, Mr. Abney particularly enjoyed spending time with

1-16     young people, and he lent his energy, humor, and talent to a number

1-17     of youth organizations, including the 4-H Club, the Future Farmers

1-18     of America, and the Tri-County Little League, as well as serving as

1-19     announcer for the Youth Livestock Show; and

1-20           WHEREAS, Despite his many accomplishments, Mr. Abney's

1-21     greatest source of inspiration was his close-knit family, and over

1-22     the years he and his wife, the former Iris Marie Cain, took great

1-23     pride in their sons, Ken, Kerry, and Brian Abney, and their

1-24     daughter, the late Pamela Sue Keay; and

 2-1           WHEREAS, Although he will be greatly missed, Conway Abney

 2-2     left the world a better place than he found it, and he is fondly

 2-3     remembered by all those whose lives he touched; now, therefore, be

 2-4     it

 2-5           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 2-6     Legislature hereby honor the memory of George Conway Abney and

 2-7     extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife,

 2-8     Iris Marie Cain Abney; to his sons and daughters-in-law, Ken and

 2-9     Carolyn Abney, Kerry and Pat Abney, and Brian and Tammy Abney; to

2-10     his sisters, Dauphine Bonner and Huberta "Sugar" Maynor; to his

2-11     grandchildren, Brandy Keay, Brent Abney, Jennifer Abney, and Jamie

2-12     Abney; and to the other members of his family and many friends;

2-13     and, be it further

2-14           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-15     prepared for the members of Mr. Abney's family and that when the

2-16     Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in

2-17     memory of George Conway Abney.

                                                                      Stiles

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 263 was unanimously adopted by a

         rising vote of the House on March 20, 1997.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House