R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, July 11, 1997, marks the second anniversary of

 1-2     Samuel Dock Gupton's passing; and

 1-3           WHEREAS, A lifelong resident of West Columbia, he earned

 1-4     distinction as a realtor and real estate developer who made

 1-5     possible more residential housing in that community than any other

 1-6     individual, and he also contributed to the region's economic

 1-7     prosperity as secretary-treasurer of a construction company owned

 1-8     by the late J. V. A. Kirksey and his family; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, In addition to his outstanding career as a

1-10     businessman, Mr. Gupton will also be remembered for his exceptional

1-11     tenure on the West Columbia City Council, and he further served his

1-12     community through his involvement with several organizations,

1-13     including the board of the Gulf Coast Center for Mental Health and

1-14     Mental Retardation, the West Columbia Rotary Club, the West

1-15     Columbia Chamber of Commerce, and the West Columbia Cemetery

1-16     Association; and

1-17           WHEREAS, He was a founder of St. Mary's Episcopal Church and

1-18     was active with the American Legion, Little League, and Boy Scout

1-19     organizations as well, and his stalwart commitment earned him the

1-20     respect and admiration of many people; and

1-21           WHEREAS, Samuel Dock Gupton was a man of great vision who

1-22     left an indelible mark on the community he was proud to call home,

1-23     and though he is gone from us now, his memory will long endure in

1-24     the hearts and minds of all who were privileged to know him; now,

 2-1     therefore, be it

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

 2-3     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Samuel Dock Gupton

 2-4     and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family:  to his

 2-5     beloved wife, Bette Gupton; to his sons and daughters-in-law, Kirby

 2-6     Gupton and Virginia Gupton and David Neal Roark and Suzanne Roark;

 2-7     to his daughter and son-in-law, Denise Ingram and Bobby Ingram; to

 2-8     his three brothers, T. M. Gupton, Rex Gupton, and M. A.  Gupton; to

 2-9     his four grandchildren, Rikki and Lorey Ingram and Ashley and Emily

2-10     Elizabeth Roark; and to the many other friends and relatives of

2-11     this distinguished Texan; and, be it further

2-12           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-13     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas

2-14     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of

2-15     Samuel Dock Gupton.

                                                                        Uher

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 545 was unanimously adopted by a

         rising vote of the House on April 18, 1997.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House