By Yarbrough H.R. No. 1278 75R17210 JHS-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The recent passing of Alexander Hieken on May 25, 1-2 1997, at the age of 88, has brought a great loss to the family and 1-3 many friends of this remarkable gentleman; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Born on July 20, 1908, in St. Louis, Missouri, 1-5 Mr. Hieken was a graduate of the University of Missouri at 1-6 Columbia, where he earned a bachelor's degree in journalism; 1-7 following his graduation in 1929, Mr. Hieken accepted a reporting 1-8 job with the El Paso Post, now the El Paso Herald-Post, and he 1-9 quickly worked his way through the paper's ranks, eventually 1-10 serving as telegraph editor and state editor; and 1-11 WHEREAS, In 1934, on the heels of the American Newspaper 1-12 Guild's formation, Mr. Hieken helped organize the El Paso Newspaper 1-13 Guild local, which he served as treasurer and later as president; 1-14 he led collective bargaining sessions in behalf of the editorial 1-15 staffs of the El Paso Herald-Post and the El Paso Times and was 1-16 responsible for the first guild contract with a Texas newspaper; 1-17 and 1-18 WHEREAS, This patriotic individual proudly served his country 1-19 during World War II, first as a member of the El Paso rationing 1-20 board and later as a radar operator on a United States Navy 1-21 destroyer escort; upon his return to El Paso, he continued his 1-22 active involvement in the labor movement, supporting several local 1-23 unions and serving as president of the El Paso Congress of 1-24 Industrial Organizations Council; and 2-1 WHEREAS, A lifelong member of the Democratic Party, 2-2 Mr. Hieken cast his first presidential ballot for Franklin Delano 2-3 Roosevelt; throughout his long and productive life, he continued 2-4 his support of the party and enthusiastically supported the 2-5 AFL-CIO; and 2-6 WHEREAS, Mr. Hieken's career as a journalist later led to 2-7 positions as publisher and editor of the San Antonio Weekly 2-8 Dispatch and as a reporter with Long News Service, and he 2-9 contributed articles to the Texas Observer; his continued 2-10 involvement in the political and social issues of his time resulted 2-11 in his appointment as press relations director of the Manpower 2-12 Training Program in Houston, which he later directed; his numerous 2-13 organizational ties included membership in the Houston Press Club, 2-14 the National Council of Senior Citizens, and the Texas 2-15 Silver-Haired Legislature; and 2-16 WHEREAS, Alexander Hieken was a man of great compassion and 2-17 vision whose passionate fight for democracy inspired countless men 2-18 and women, and although his generosity and leadership will be 2-19 missed by all who knew him, his spirit will no doubt live on in the 2-20 hearts and minds of the many people whose lives he touched; now, 2-21 therefore, be it 2-22 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas 2-23 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Alexander Hieken and 2-24 extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, 2-25 Elizabeth Kimmel-Hieken; to his daughter, Ellen Hinkle; to his 2-26 grandchildren, Chris Hinkle and Cherrie Hinkle; to his 2-27 great-grandchildren, Carli and Austin Hinkle; to his sister, Mary 3-1 Lavazzi; to his brother, George Hieken; and to the many other 3-2 relatives and friends of this esteemed gentleman; and, be it 3-3 further 3-4 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-5 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas 3-6 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of 3-7 Alexander Hieken.