By Uher                                                H.R. No. 549

         75R8699 SAJ-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, Vevi Stevens celebrated her 90th birthday on October

 1-2     27, 1996, and to her relatives and many friends, this event was a

 1-3     truly joyous and memorable occasion; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, A lifelong resident of Matagorda County, Miss

 1-5     Stevens has always believed in the importance of obtaining a

 1-6     quality education; she balanced the professional demands of her

 1-7     teaching career with the furtherance of her own studies, earning a

 1-8     bachelor's degree from Southwest Texas State University and a

 1-9     master's degree from the University of Houston, and she has gone on

1-10     to make higher education more attainable for many deserving Texans

1-11     by establishing the Stevens Family Scholarship Foundation at her

1-12     undergraduate alma mater; and

1-13           WHEREAS, Miss Stevens further demonstrated her abiding

1-14     commitment to education as a classroom teacher for 38 years; an

1-15     educator in the truest sense of the word, she helped and encouraged

1-16     her pupils to strive toward achieving their highest potentials, and

1-17     in doing so, she earned a special place in the hearts of countless

1-18     young Texans; and

1-19           WHEREAS, Her exceptional commitment has been a source of

1-20     inspiration to many people, and she earned well-deserved acclaim

1-21     for her remarkable tenure when she was named Bay City Teacher of

1-22     the Year in 1963; and

1-23           WHEREAS, Her commitment to her profession is surpassed only

1-24     by her devotion to her family; she operated her parents' ranch on

 2-1     Caney Creek for many years, and she cared for both of her parents

 2-2     in their time of need; and

 2-3           WHEREAS, In all her endeavors, she has been sustained by her

 2-4     faith as a devout member of Cedar Lane Baptist Church, where she

 2-5     was a Training Union leader and program chair of the Women's

 2-6     Missionary Union; she continues to serve her religious community

 2-7     today by offering fellowship to nursing home residents; and

 2-8           WHEREAS, Throughout her lifetime, Vevi Stevens has brought

 2-9     much joy and happiness to the many people whose lives she has

2-10     touched; a deeply admired member of her community, she has earned

2-11     the special love and affection of all who are privileged to know

2-12     her; now, therefore, be it

2-13           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-14     Legislature hereby honor Vevi Stevens and extend warmest birthday

2-15     congratulations to this lovely lady; and, be it further

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

2-17     prepared for Miss Stevens as an expression of high regard by the

2-18     Texas House of Representatives.