R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of Charlie R. Hillard on April 16, 1996,

 1-2     at the age of 58, has brought a great loss to the family and many

 1-3     friends of this esteemed Fort Worth businessman and civic leader;

 1-4     and

 1-5           WHEREAS, He was highly regarded as an automobile dealer and

 1-6     began working for his father, "King" Charlie Hillard, when he was

 1-7     just 10 years old; he went on to excel in the family business and

 1-8     was instrumental in expanding the dealership from a single

 1-9     franchise to what is now one of the most successful auto parks in

1-10     the nation; and

1-11           WHEREAS, Mr. Hillard led a full and active life that included

1-12     an avid interest in aviation; an accomplished skydiver during his

1-13     youth, he was a member of the United States Skydiving Team in 1958

1-14     and placed second at Paris' Coupe du Monde; and

1-15           WHEREAS, He later became an aerobatic pilot, and in addition

1-16     to working as an aircraft designer and a movie stunt pilot, he also

1-17     led the world-renowned Eagle Aerobatic Team; the first American to

1-18     win the world aerobatic title, he held four gold medals in the

1-19     Olympics of the Air and was inducted into both the International

1-20     Aerobatic Hall of Fame and the Fort Worth Aviation Hall of Fame;

1-21     and

1-22           WHEREAS, Through the years, Mr. Hillard demonstrated an

1-23     abiding commitment to his community as a board member of the Fort

1-24     Worth Chamber of Commerce, Texas Wesleyan University, and the Texas

 2-1     Motor Speedway Children's Charities; he was also active with the

 2-2     Marketing Committee of the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, and  drew on

 2-3     his vast experience to seek solutions to important transportation

 2-4     issues; and

 2-5           WHEREAS, Charlie Hillard left an indelible mark on the

 2-6     community he was proud to call home, and though he is gone from us

 2-7     now, his memory will long endure in the hearts and minds of all who

 2-8     knew and loved him; now, therefore, be it

 2-9           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-10     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Charlie R. Hillard

2-11     and extend heartfelt sympathy to the members of his family: to his

2-12     wife, Doreen K. Hillard; to his daughters, Lauris Gibson and

2-13     Heather Hillard; to his sons, Reese Hillard and Ryan Hillard; to

2-14     his sister, Shirley Hillard; to his grandsons, John Holden Gibson

2-15     III, Davis Hillard Gibson, and Reese Campbell Hillard; and to his

2-16     many other friends and relatives; and, be it further

2-17           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-18     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas

2-19     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of

2-20     Charlie R.  Hillard.

                                                                      Brimer

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 1296 was adopted by the House on June

         2, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House