R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The recent passing of Mary Oleene Starkey Tatum on

 1-2     May 8, 1997, at the age of 62, has brought a great loss to the

 1-3     family and many friends of this esteemed woman; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, Born in Brownwood on December 20, 1934, Mrs. Tatum

 1-5     was a graduate of Howard Payne University; she and her husband,

 1-6     Joe, moved to Big Lake in 1957, the year after they were married;

 1-7     and

 1-8           WHEREAS, Mrs. Tatum was a teacher and coach for the Reagan

 1-9     County Independent School District for 40 years; known by her

1-10     students as "Mrs. T," this remarkable woman taught physical

1-11     education and coached volleyball, basketball, and tennis at both

1-12     Reagan County High School and Reagan County Middle School; and

1-13           WHEREAS, The Texas Tennis Coach of the Year in 1990, she

1-14     coached her daughter, Tracy, to the state championship in 1981 and

1-15     guided Reagan County High School to the State Team Tennis

1-16     Championship in 1995 and 1996; she also led her players to more

1-17     than a dozen district championships as well as 23 years of regional

1-18     qualifiers and six years of state semifinals; and

1-19           WHEREAS, In 1994, Mrs. Tatum and her husband were honored by

1-20     the Big Lake Chamber of Commerce as the community's Citizens of the

1-21     Year for their many years of service to the citizens of Big Lake;

1-22     more recently, the Reagan County School Trustees declared May 2,

1-23     1997, Mary Tatum Day in honor of her longtime dedication and

1-24     service to the students, faculty, and staff of the Reagan County

 2-1     Independent School District; and

 2-2           WHEREAS, Mary Tatum's ability to inspire her students was

 2-3     legendary, and the beautiful smile that so often evidenced her

 2-4     pride in their success will be missed by all who knew and loved

 2-5     her; a woman of generosity and compassion, her spirit will surely

 2-6     live on in the hearts and minds of the many people whose lives she

 2-7     touched; now, therefore, be it

 2-8           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 2-9     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Mary Oleene Starkey

2-10     Tatum and extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to

2-11     her husband, Joe David Tatum; to her daughter, Tracy Joleene Tatum;

2-12     to her son and daughter-in-law, Timothy John and Shayne Tatum; to

2-13     her grandchildren, Lindsey Jo Tatum and Gunner Troy Tatum; to her

2-14     sisters, Melba Baker, Doris Hollamon, Joan Gentry, and Jean Green

2-15     and her husband, Don; to her brother and sister-in-law, Travis and

2-16     Ina Vee Starkey; to her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Forbes

2-17     Tatum and Nell Tatum; to her special friend, Rita Dell Statham; and

2-18     to the many other relatives and friends of this beloved woman; and,

2-19     be it further

2-20           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-21     prepared for the members of her family and that when the Texas

2-22     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of

2-23     Mary Oleene Starkey Tatum.

                                                                    Craddick

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 1070 was unanimously adopted by a

         rising vote of the House on May 23, 1997.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House