R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, June 6, 1997, marks the fourth anniversary of the
1-2 passing of the Honorable Edmund Eugene "Sonny" Jones, Jr., and it
1-3 is indeed appropriate that the members of this chamber pay tribute
1-4 to him at this time; and
1-5 WHEREAS, Mr. Jones's life was deeply rooted in the history of
1-6 our state, for he was a descendant of two prominent early Texans:
1-7 Henry Jones, one of the earliest settlers of Fort Bend County, and
1-8 Thomas Barnett, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence;
1-9 Mr. Jones maintained his family's proud history of involvement
1-10 through his exemplary service as a public official, civic leader,
1-11 and businessman; and
1-12 WHEREAS, A respected member of the Houston community, he
1-13 served his fellow citizens with integrity as a member of the House
1-14 of Representatives of the 60th, 61st, and 62nd Texas Legislatures
1-15 and earned further distinction as the first Republican elected to
1-16 this chamber from Harris County after Reconstruction; and
1-17 WHEREAS, During his fine tenure, Representative Jones helped
1-18 to initiate reform as a member of the Dirty Thirty; deeply
1-19 committed to highway safety issues as well, he cosponsored a bill
1-20 mandating the use of reflector triangles on tractors, to the
1-21 benefit of countless Texans; and
1-22 WHEREAS, He continued to work for the betterment of his
1-23 community after leaving office as director of the Harris County
1-24 Housing Authority, in which capacity he effectively managed a host
2-1 of important concerns during his four years of service; and
2-2 WHEREAS, In addition to his outstanding work in these areas,
2-3 Mr. Jones was a dedicated civic leader who chaired the Houston
2-4 Jaycees' Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration in 1966, and his
2-5 efforts helped to ensure a memorable event for many in the
2-6 community; and
2-7 WHEREAS, Well known for his unwavering commitment to the
2-8 Republican Party, Mr. Jones held leadership positions with the
2-9 Harris County Young Republicans and was a member of Young Americans
2-10 for Freedom during the early 1960s, and his active involvement
2-11 greatly strengthened the party's presence in the region; and
2-12 WHEREAS, Sonny Jones was a man of immense vision who
2-13 dedicated much of his life to the betterment of his community and
2-14 state, and as the fourth anniversary of his death approaches, it is
2-15 truly fitting that we reflect on the lasting legacy of achievement
2-16 he has left behind; now, therefore, be it
2-17 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas
2-18 Legislature hereby honor the memory of former State Representative
2-19 Edmund Eugene "Sonny" Jones, Jr., and extend sincere sympathy to
2-20 the members of his family: to his daughters, Melinda Holt Jones
2-21 Little and Margaret Holland Jones; to his son, Michael Howell
2-22 Jones; to his four grandchildren, Katherine Margaret Little,
2-23 William Barnett Little, David Case Little, and Christopher Michael
2-24 Jones; and to the many other friends and relatives of this eminent
2-25 Texan; and, be it further
2-26 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-27 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
3-1 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
3-2 the Honorable Edmund Eugene "Sonny" Jones, Jr.
Uher
Laney Gutierrez Oliveira
Alexander Haggerty Olivo
Allen Hamric Palmer
Alvarado Hartnett Patterson
Averitt Hawley Pickett
Bailey Heflin Pitts
Berlanga Hernandez Place
Bonnen Hightower Price
Bosse Hilbert Puente
Brimer Hilderbran Rabuck
Burnam Hill Ramsay
Carter Hinojosa Rangel
Chavez Hirschi Raymond
Chisum Hochberg Reyna of Bexar
Christian Hodge Reyna of Dallas
Clark Holzheauser Rhodes
Coleman Horn Rodriguez
Cook Howard Roman
Corte Hunter Sadler
Counts Hupp Seaman
Crabb Isett Serna
Craddick Jackson Shields
Cuellar Janek Siebert
Culberson Jones of Lubbock Smith
Danburg Jones of Dallas Smithee
Davila Junell Solis
Davis Kamel Solomons
Delisi Keel Staples
Denny Keffer Stiles
Driver King Swinford
Dukes Krusee Talton
Dunnam Kubiak Telford
Dutton Kuempel Thompson
Edwards Lewis of Tarrant Tillery
Ehrhardt Lewis of Orange Torres
Eiland Longoria Turner of Coleman
Elkins Luna Turner of Harris
Farrar McCall Uher
Finnell McClendon Van de Putte
Flores McReynolds Walker
Gallego Madden West
Galloway Marchant Williams
Garcia Maxey Williamson
Giddings Merritt Wilson
Glaze Moffat Wise
Goodman Moreno Wohlgemuth
Goolsby Mowery Wolens
Gray Naishtat Woolley
Greenberg Nixon Yarbrough
Grusendorf Oakley Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 397 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on April 8, 1997.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House