R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The family and many friends of Claudia Benge were
1-2 greatly saddened by her passing on February 28, 1997, at the age of
1-3 82; and
1-4 WHEREAS, A native Texan, Mrs. Benge was born Claudia Ianth
1-5 Elliott in Dallas, where she attended Oak Cliff High School before
1-6 studying acting at the Cooke School of Dramatic Art, and at the age
1-7 of 18, she took a job as the drama teacher for Wellington High
1-8 School; it was during this time that she married Lester Benge, and
1-9 the couple enjoyed a rich and rewarding relationship until his
1-10 death in 1975; and
1-11 WHEREAS, In 1940, the Benges moved to Pampa, and it was there
1-12 that Mrs. Benge's skills in the field of communications first
1-13 became evident, initially as a radio book reviewer and then as a
1-14 reporter and producer; she also took on newspaper work in
1-15 Wellington when she and her family returned there; and
1-16 WHEREAS, Mrs. Benge's long and fruitful career in advertising
1-17 began in Fort Worth, where she worked as a copywriter at radio
1-18 station KFJZ before taking a position at Roland Broiles
1-19 Advertising; her remarkable creative talent assured her swift rise
1-20 in the industry, and by 1961 she had become Fort Worth's first
1-21 female advertising executive; and
1-22 WHEREAS, She went on to serve as officer, director, and
1-23 executive vice president of the firm, which was renamed Goodman &
1-24 Associates, and her outstanding record of achievement in
2-1 advertising has served as a touchstone for the many women who have
2-2 followed her into the field; and
2-3 WHEREAS, The high esteem in which Mrs. Benge was held by her
2-4 professional peers is aptly expressed in the many honors she was
2-5 accorded by them; the recipient of the Fort Worth Ad Club's Silver
2-6 Medal Award in 1978, she was also named the 1972 National
2-7 Advertising Woman of the Year by the Women's Advertising Clubs of
2-8 America; and
2-9 WHEREAS, On retiring from advertising, Mrs. Benge returned to
2-10 her first love, the theater, and received wide acclaim for her
2-11 dramatic work, including productions at the Fort Worth Theater, the
2-12 Circle Theater, and Shakespeare in the Park; she also appeared in
2-13 the award-winning feature film "Places in the Heart"; and
2-14 WHEREAS, Mrs. Benge drew strength and sustenance from her
2-15 association with Broadway Baptist Church, and she gave freely of
2-16 her talents to the congregation, teaching a young people's Sunday
2-17 school class for many years; and
2-18 WHEREAS, Claudia Benge's life and work stand as eloquent
2-19 testament to her profound impact on her profession and her
2-20 community, and though she will be greatly missed, her spirit will
2-21 long endure in the hearts and minds of all those she touched during
2-22 her lifetime; now, therefore, be it
2-23 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas
2-24 Legislature hereby honor the memory of Claudia Ianth Benge and
2-25 extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her son
2-26 and daughter-in-law, William D. and Sharon Benge; to her sister,
2-27 Roberta Moffit; to her grandchildren, W. Bret Benge, Brook J.
3-1 Benge, and E. Barrett Benge; and to her great-grandchildren, Baker
3-2 Benge, Brice Benge, and Brody Benge; and, be it further
3-3 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-4 prepared for the members of her family and that when the Texas
3-5 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
3-6 Claudia Benge.
Burnam
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 365 was adopted by the House on March
20, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House