By Kamel                                         H.R. No. 325

      75R6695 SAJ-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, June 24, 1997, marks the second anniversary of the

 1-2     passing of Ralph Spence, Sr.; and

 1-3           WHEREAS, A native of Tyler, Mr. Spence was graduated from The

 1-4     University of Texas in 1942; he maintained an abiding commitment to

 1-5     his alma mater throughout the years as an esteemed member of

 1-6     several boards and committees within The University of Texas System

 1-7     and as chair of the Chancellor's Council, he  secured for The

 1-8     University of Texas at Austin one of the five complete copies of

 1-9     the Gutenberg Bible in the nation; and

1-10           WHEREAS, A World War II veteran, Mr. Spence was well regarded

1-11     for his career as an independent oil operator and discovered fields

1-12     in Texas, Montana, and Colorado; an acknowledged leader in his area

1-13     of expertise, he shared his extensive knowledge with his colleagues

1-14     as a member of several professional organizations, and he was

1-15     honored by the East Texas Association of Petroleum Landmen with the

1-16     Pioneer Award for his vast contributions to the industry; and

1-17           WHEREAS, Throughout his distinguished career, he demonstrated

1-18     an abiding commitment to the Tyler community, and the many

1-19     organizations and civic groups that welcomed his involvement

1-20     include the Salvation Army, the East Texas Hospital Foundation, the

1-21     Tyler-Smith County Public Library, the Texas Rose Festival, and the

1-22     Masonic Order; and

1-23           WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Spence was sustained by a

1-24     deep religious faith, and he shared his devotion with many others

 2-1     both as a warden and as a vestryman at Christ Episcopal Church;

 2-2     Mr. Spence further served his denomination as a principal presenter

 2-3     at the 65th General Convention of the Episcopal Church and as a

 2-4     trustee of the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin; and

 2-5           WHEREAS, His remarkable service in behalf of others earned

 2-6     him well-deserved acclaim, for he received awards from numerous

 2-7     organizations, including the Texas Congress of the Parent-Teacher

 2-8     Association, The University of Texas at Tyler, the Salvation Army

 2-9     Board, the Carnegie Library of Tyler, and the Tyler-Smith County

2-10     Library Foundation, Inc.; and

2-11           WHEREAS, Ralph Spence was a man of immense vision who left an

2-12     indelible mark on the community he was proud to call home, and

2-13     though he is gone from us now, his spirit will long endure in the

2-14     many accomplishments he left behind; now, therefore, be it

2-15           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-16     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Ralph Spence, Sr.,

2-17     and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his

2-18     beloved wife, Mary John Spence; to his son and daughter-in-law,

2-19     Ralph Spence, Jr., and Tancy Ann Spence; to his daughters and

2-20     sons-in-law, Louise and Guy Griffeth and Judy and Charles Tate; to

2-21     his seven grandchildren, Spence Underwood Griffeth, Charles Teal

2-22     Griffeth, Mary John Frank, Louise Spence Frank, Ralph Spence III,

2-23     Nash Wynne Spence, and Benjamin Grelling Spence; and to his many

2-24     friends and relatives; and, be it further

2-25           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

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

2-27     Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ralph

 3-1     Spence, Sr.