By Uher                                          H.R. No. 397

      75R6146 SAJ-D                           

                                 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.