By Kubiak H.R. No. 890 75R14538 WMS-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, June 14, 1997, will mark the joyous occasion of the 1-2 17th annual Snider Family Reunion in Bremond, Texas; and 1-3 WHEREAS, Each year, members of the Snider family gather to 1-4 celebrate their unique history, to pay tribute to their Polish 1-5 heritage, and to reweave the delicate bonds of kinship stretched by 1-6 time and distance; and 1-7 WHEREAS, This year's reunion is dedicated to two family 1-8 members who passed away during the year, Lula Snider and Jean 1-9 Kubiak Cundieff; and 1-10 WHEREAS, In recent years, the reunion has drawn more than 100 1-11 proud descendants of Tom and Jacob Suchowiak (Snider), two brothers 1-12 who were among the first settlers of the Polish community of 1-13 Bremond; and 1-14 WHEREAS, The family traces its roots back to Poland, as 1-15 described in The History of the Snider Family in Robertson County 1-16 by Dan and Leonard Kubiak; in the late 1800s, many families fled to 1-17 Texas from the desperate conditions in their war-ravaged country to 1-18 start a new life and settled throughout the new state; and 1-19 WHEREAS, Among this group of hardy pioneers were Tom and 1-20 Jacob Snider, who settled in the heavily forested region of 1-21 Robertson County and, through much hard work, faith, and 1-22 determination, helped to transform the frontier from a rugged 1-23 wilderness into a productive and fruitful land that would sustain 1-24 their families as well as future generations to follow; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Tom and Balbina Snider became prominent citizens of 2-2 the Wooten Wells settlement and raised a large family in the warmth 2-3 of their Christian household; their son, Mike Snider, married 2-4 Veronica Grudziecki on November 15, 1906, and the couple was 2-5 blessed with a large family that grew to include John Snider, who, 2-6 at age 90, is currently the oldest living member of the family, 2-7 Willie Snider Storemski, Connie Snider Kubiak, Christine Snider 2-8 Knapik, and Louis Snider; deceased are Bill Snider, Bruno Snider, 2-9 and Lee Snider; and 2-10 WHEREAS, The children of Mike and Veronica Snider are today 2-11 beloved elders and honored guests at each year's gathering; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Organizers of the Snider Family Reunion have sought 2-13 to preserve the cultural traditions and values that were central to 2-14 the lives of their Polish forefathers and have successfully 2-15 emphasized the family's distinctive history while recognizing the 2-16 achievements of contemporary family members; many descendants of 2-17 this proud family have attained positions of prominence in such 2-18 important fields as medicine, business, law, politics, agriculture, 2-19 construction, publishing, historic preservation, and private 2-20 industry; and 2-21 WHEREAS, This remarkable family risked everything to journey 2-22 to a new land and, in the face of many hardships, labored to 2-23 improve themselves and forge a new life and a brighter future for 2-24 their children; in so doing, they have contributed significantly to 2-25 the economic strength and cultural diversity of the Lone Star State 2-26 and are indeed deserving of special legislative recognition for 2-27 their many achievements at this time; now, therefore, be it 3-1 RESOLVED, That June 14, 1997, be recognized as Snider Family 3-2 Day in Texas and that best wishes be extended to all family members 3-3 for a happy and rewarding reunion; and, be it further 3-4 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-5 prepared for the Snider family as an expression of high regard by 3-6 the Texas House of Representatives.