By Holzheauser                                         H.R. No. 481

         75R9947 SAJ-F                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of Tom O'Connor, Jr., of Victoria on

 1-2     August 7, 1996, at the age of 81, has brought a great loss to the

 1-3     relatives and many friends of this prominent Texas rancher,

 1-4     businessman, and philanthropist; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, Mr. O'Connor was born to the South Texas pioneer

 1-6     family of Thomas O'Connor, Sr., and Kathryn Stoner O'Connor on

 1-7     March 6, 1915, and was graduated from Victoria College in the late

 1-8     1930s; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, He became manager of O'Connor Brothers ranches in

1-10     1942 and soon was well known throughout the area for his

1-11     outstanding management practices; he ran his extensive enterprises

1-12     with only two ranch hands during World War II, and throughout the

1-13     years, his successful ventures contributed greatly to the

1-14     betterment of the community; and

1-15           WHEREAS, An accomplished businessman, Mr. O'Connor began a

1-16     distinguished association with the board of Victoria Bank and Trust

1-17     Company in 1939 and was senior chairman of that bank and its

1-18     holding company, Victoria Bankshares, Inc., until their merger with

1-19     Norwest Corp. in 1996; and

1-20           WHEREAS, Deeply committed to education issues, he had served

1-21     on the board of his alma mater since 1979, and as chair of the

1-22     building committee was instrumental in securing the passage of a

1-23     $12 million bond package for facility construction; in addition, he

1-24     gave generously of his resources to help support St. Joseph High

 2-1     School; and

 2-2           WHEREAS, Mr. O'Connor, the devoted father of two children,

 2-3     also helped to expand opportunities for countless area youth

 2-4     through his involvement in the Victoria County 4-H group and the

 2-5     Boy Scouts, and he strove to make the community a better place in

 2-6     which to live, work, and rear a family as an active supporter of

 2-7     Citizens Medical Center,  the Victoria Community Center, the

 2-8     Victoria Public Library, Twin Pines Nursing Home, and the Salvation

 2-9     Army; and

2-10           WHEREAS, A man of immense vision, Tom O'Connor left an

2-11     indelible mark on his community, and though he is gone from us now,

2-12     his memory will long endure in the hearts and minds of all who were

2-13     privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it

2-14           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-15     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Tom O'Connor, Jr.,

2-16     and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his

2-17     daughters, Louise S. O'Connor and Kathryn O'Connor Counts; to his

2-18     seven grandchildren; to his seven great-grandchildren; and to the

2-19     many other friends and relatives of this eminent Texan; and, be it

2-20     further

2-21           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-22     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas

2-23     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of

2-24     Tom O'Connor, Jr.