R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of Mildred "Millie" Bickham O'Connell on

 1-2     February 8, 1997, at the age of 91, has brought a great loss to the

 1-3     family and many friends of this beloved lady; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, She was born April 14, 1905, to Louis and Lorena

 1-5     Bickham in Franklinton, Louisiana, and enjoyed a deeply fulfilling

 1-6     marriage to Bouldin O'Connell until his passing in 1976; and

 1-7           WHEREAS, A longtime resident of Van Vleck, Mrs. O'Connell was

 1-8     well regarded for her career as a cafeteria manager with both the

 1-9     Bay City and the Van Vleck independent school districts; she

1-10     further demonstrated her commitment to the youth of her community

1-11     both through her involvement in the local parent-teacher

1-12     association and through her volunteer efforts to help children

1-13     learn to read; and

1-14           WHEREAS, She led a full and active life and made time in her

1-15     busy schedule to enjoy a variety of leisure pursuits; she acted in

1-16     several community performances and also played both the organ and

1-17     the piano at her church and later at her nursing home, where she

1-18     entertained her many friends; and

1-19           WHEREAS, In all her endeavors, Mrs. O'Connell was sustained

1-20     by her  deep faith as a member of the First United Methodist Church

1-21     of Van Vleck, and she contributed her time and talent to the

1-22     benefit of the congregation through her involvement with the

1-23     church's women's group; and

1-24           WHEREAS, During her lifetime, Millie O'Connell touched the

 2-1     lives of many people, and though her presence will be deeply

 2-2     missed, her memory will long endure in the hearts and minds of all

 2-3     who came to know and love her; 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 Mildred "Millie"

 2-6     Bickham O'Connell and extend sincere sympathy to the members of her

 2-7     family: to her daughters and sons-in-law, Dorothy and Harry

 2-8     Stafford and Nancy and Wesley Bridgwater; to her sons and

 2-9     daughters-in-law, Burt and Florine O'Connell and Ray and Jo Ann

2-10     O'Connell; to her 14 grandchildren, Harry Stafford, John Stafford,

2-11     Edward Stafford, Richard Stafford, Michael O'Connell, Nancy Brown,

2-12     Patrick O'Connell, Eileen O'Connell, Kathleen Ballinger, Tommy

2-13     Bridgwater, Terry Bridgwater, David Bridgwater, Dana Harrison, and

2-14     Danny Bridgwater; and to her great-grandchildren and

2-15     great-great-grandchild; and, be it further

2-16           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-17     prepared for the members of her family and that when the Texas

2-18     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of

2-19     Mildred "Millie" Bickham O'Connell.

                                                                        Uher

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 393 was unanimously adopted by a

         rising vote of the House on April 11, 1997.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House