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.