By Kubiak                                              H.R. No. 782

         75R13558 SAJ-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The wedding anniversary of two outstanding Texans

 1-2     who have shared 60 happy and rewarding years of marriage is truly a

 1-3     memorable occasion worthy of special recognition; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, John and Bonnie Mitchell of Cameron will have the

 1-5     privilege of commemorating such a momentous event in their lives

 1-6     when they celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on April 30,

 1-7     1997; and

 1-8           WHEREAS, The Mitchells met in New Mexico, and they exchanged

 1-9     their wedding vows in Palm Springs, California, in 1937; throughout

1-10     the years, they have nurtured an enduring relationship that has

1-11     grown in love and understanding with each passing year, and they

1-12     have enriched not only their own lives but the lives of those

1-13     around them with their devotion to each other; and

1-14           WHEREAS, The couple have been welcomed and industrious

1-15     members of each community in which they have resided; Mr. Mitchell

1-16     was employed as a lineman supervisor for the El Paso Electric

1-17     Company in New Mexico before moving to Texas, where he initially

1-18     operated a service station in College Station and later relocated

1-19     to Cameron to ranch until his retirement in 1975; and

1-20           WHEREAS, In addition to providing a warm and secure home life

1-21     for her family, Mrs. Mitchell effectively served as her husband's

1-22     partner throughout all their business endeavors; in retirement, she

1-23     finds she now has more time to pursue her two favorite pastimes,

1-24     gardening and crocheting; and

 2-1           WHEREAS, These fine individuals are each heir to a rich

 2-2     family heritage; Mr. Mitchell was born in Lindsey, Oklahoma, and

 2-3     his Chickasaw Indian ancestry can be traced back to the  Trail of

 2-4     Tears in 1836, while Mrs. Mitchell is a native Texan who descends

 2-5     from Alexander Hodge, one of the original settlers who came to

 2-6     Texas  with Stephen F. Austin; and

 2-7           WHEREAS, The couple are the proud parents of two daughters,

 2-8     Shirley Eastin and Kay Kloesel; in recent years, their  family has

 2-9     grown to include five grandchildren, Jo Beth Hackett, Kris

2-10     Wattinger, Glen Vinson, Kenneth Vinson, and Maureen Paolucci; and

2-11     six great-grandchildren, Wesley, Courtney, and Cody Hackett, Rolla

2-12     McRae Wattinger, and Monica and Gina Paolucci; and

2-13           WHEREAS, For six decades, John and Bonnie Mitchell have

2-14     shared a warm and affectionate union filled with many happy times

2-15     and cherished family memories; built on a solid foundation of

2-16     mutual love, trust, and support, their marriage has indeed been a

2-17     source of joy and inspiration to the many friends and family of

2-18     this fortunate pair; now, therefore, be it

2-19           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-20     Legislature hereby congratulate John and Bonnie Mitchell on the

2-21     occasion of their 60th wedding anniversary and extend to them

2-22     warmest best wishes for continued happiness; and, be it further

2-23           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-24     prepared for Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell as an expression of high regard

2-25     by the Texas House of Representatives.