By Wilson                                              H.R. No. 603

         75R10944 SAJ-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of the Reverend Wilbert Martin on March

 1-2     21, 1996, at the age of 63, has brought a great loss to the family

 1-3     and many friends of this esteemed Austin resident; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, The son of Deacon and Mrs. Alger Martin, Reverend

 1-5     Martin was a devoted worker at several places of worship before

 1-6     becoming the founding pastor of Austin's Berean Baptist Church, in

 1-7     which capacity he offered spiritual strength and guidance to

 1-8     countless individuals through the years; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, This respected clergyman also organized street and

1-10     hospital ministries to meet the diverse needs of the community, and

1-11     he further served the Lord as cofounder and director of the Berean

1-12     Bible Study Foundation of Austin, Inc., and as director of Berean

1-13     Ministries International; his outstanding involvement in all these

1-14     endeavors helped many people to center their lives around Jesus

1-15     Christ; and

1-16           WHEREAS, In addition to his exemplary Christian service,

1-17     Reverend Martin will also be remembered as a valued employee of the

1-18     Texas House of Representatives; highly regarded for his

1-19     professionalism and exceptional commitment to his work, he was

1-20     director of the Supply and Purchasing Division for 25 years; and

1-21           WHEREAS, His commitment to the community was evidenced by his

1-22     participation in several local organizations; a charter member of

1-23     both the East Austin Optimist Club and the Austin All City Mass

1-24     Male Chorus, he was organizer and coach of the Bear Cats pony

 2-1     league team and inspired many young athletes to victory in citywide

 2-2     championships in each of the seven years he was involved with the

 2-3     team; and

 2-4           WHEREAS, A man of immense vision and devotion, Reverend

 2-5     Martin left an indelible mark on the community he was proud to call

 2-6     home, and though he is gone from us now, his memory will surely

 2-7     endure in the hearts and minds of all who knew and loved him; now,

 2-8     therefore, be it

 2-9           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-10     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Reverend Wilbert

2-11     Martin and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to

2-12     his wife, Reverend Jean Martin; to his daughters, Leah

2-13     Martin-Campbell and Stephanie Pena; to his sons, Leon Patterson and

2-14     Barry Patterson; to his adopted daughter, Reverend Harriet Taylor;

2-15     to his three sisters, Idell Martin, Juanita Manor, and Thelma

2-16     Crawford; to his grandchildren; and to the many other friends and

2-17     relatives of this distinguished gentleman; and, be it further

2-18           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-19     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas

2-20     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of

2-21     the Reverend Wilbert Martin.