By Zbranek                                       H.R. No. 327

      75R8060 JHS-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The recent passing of the Honorable Oscar F. Nelson

 1-2     on February 14, 1997, at the age of 73, has brought a great loss to

 1-3     the family and many friends of this distinguished gentleman; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, A native of Anahuac in Chambers County, Judge Nelson

 1-5     was born on January 28, 1924; he attended Texas A&M University and

 1-6     Sam Houston State University after graduating from the Anahuac

 1-7     school system and proudly served his country in the United States

 1-8     Army during World War II and the Korean War, ultimately achieving

 1-9     the rank of captain; and

1-10           WHEREAS, Judge Nelson, a man known for his discretion and

1-11     good counsel as well as an excellent sense of humor, first served

1-12     as county judge from 1962 to 1977, and in 1986 he was reelected to

1-13     this important position; he was well regarded as a businessman and

1-14     was a lifelong proponent of economic development who encouraged

1-15     small and large businesses alike to relocate to Chambers County;

1-16     and

1-17           WHEREAS, This commendable gentleman was named "Citizen of the

1-18     Year" by the Anahuac Area Chamber of Commerce in 1975, and again in

1-19     1995, in recognition of his many efforts in behalf of his home

1-20     county; under his careful leadership, the county constructed a new

1-21     county library, a state-of-the-art solid-waste disposal complex,

1-22     and a golf course and also enlarged the county jail and refurbished

1-23     the county courthouse; and

1-24           WHEREAS, Oscar F. Nelson was a man of rare honor and

 2-1     compassion, and though his guidance and devotion will be missed by

 2-2     all who knew him, his spirit will surely live on in the hearts of

 2-3     the many people whose lives he touched; now, therefore, be it

 2-4           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 2-5     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Oscar F. Nelson, Jr.,

 2-6     and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his

 2-7     wife, LaVerne Smith Nelson; to his sons, Randall S. Nelson and

 2-8     W. F.  "Ted" Nelson; to his sister, Margie Nelson Thames; to his

 2-9     brother, Gene Nelson; to his five grandchildren and his nieces and

2-10     nephews; and to the many other relatives and friends of this

2-11     esteemed gentleman; and, be it further

2-12           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-13     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas

2-14     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of

2-15     the Honorable Oscar F. Nelson, Jr.