By: Sibley S.C.R. No. 79 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature was deeply saddened by the 1-2 untimely death of Dr. Marion Rice Zetzman, Chairman of the Center 1-3 for Rural Health Initiatives' Executive Committee, on November 7, 1-4 1996, at the age of 57; and 1-5 WHEREAS, The passing of such an esteemed Texan has brought a 1-6 sense of great loss to the state and to the relatives and friends 1-7 of this distinguished public health policy leader; and 1-8 WHEREAS, Appointed to the Executive Committee of the Center 1-9 for Rural Health Initiatives by Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock and 1-10 former Lieutenant Governor William P. Hobby, Dr. Zetzman had served 1-11 as chairman since its creation; and 1-12 WHEREAS, A longtime advocate for rural health issues, Dr. 1-13 Zetzman was deeply involved in the development of the center since 1-14 it was founded in 1989, and he had envisioned the center as a vital 1-15 component to address the health needs of three million rural 1-16 Texans; and 1-17 WHEREAS, Before his appointment to the Executive Committee of 1-18 the Center for Rural Health Initiatives, Dr. Zetzman had been 1-19 appointed to chair the Statewide Health Coordinating Council from 1-20 1984 to 1990 by two former governors, Mark White and William P. 1-21 Clements; and 1-22 WHEREAS, Recognized for his leadership abilities and 1-23 dedication to Texans living in rural areas, Dr. Zetzman had served 2-1 Governor Preston Smith for four years in the Governor's Office of 2-2 Comprehensive Health Planning and was named associate director of 2-3 the office in 1972; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Born and reared in Roscoe, a community near 2-5 Sweetwater with a population just over 1,400, Dr. Zetzman was proud 2-6 of his rural Texas heritage and learned early in his life about the 2-7 needs of underserved rural communities; he maintained a lifelong 2-8 commitment to improving health care services for his rural 2-9 friends; and 2-10 WHEREAS, He became an assistant professor at The University 2-11 of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas in 1973, a tenure 2-12 that lasted 23 years, and served as chairman of Southwestern's 2-13 Division of Community Medicine and Epidemiology for two decades; 2-14 and 2-15 WHEREAS, His career in public health began in 1962 as a 2-16 Public Health Advisor at the United States Public Health Service, 2-17 Centers for Disease Control; he later became a Public Health 2-18 Sanitarian in the Sweetwater-Nolan County Health Department; and 2-19 WHEREAS, A graduate of Hardin-Simmons University, Dr. Zetzman 2-20 earned his Master of Public Health degree from Tulane University 2-21 and his Doctor of Public Health degree from the School of Public 2-22 Health of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston 2-23 in 1972; and 2-24 WHEREAS, A man of exceptional abilities and vision, he shared 2-25 his expertise with his colleagues as a member of the editorial 3-1 board of the Texas Journal of Rural Health, chairman of The 3-2 University of Texas System Telemedicine Committee, and Health 3-3 Policy Consultant to the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor 3-4 for Health Affairs of The University of Texas System in Austin; and 3-5 WHEREAS, A fellow and member of the governing board of the 3-6 American Public Health Association, he was a 32nd degree Scottish 3-7 Rite Mason affiliated with the Dallas Consistory; and 3-8 WHEREAS, A fine public servant whose energy and vision left a 3-9 legacy of enduring accomplishments, Dr. Marion Rice Zetzman will be 3-10 greatly missed by all who were fortunate to know him and who 3-11 benefitted from his exemplary work; now, therefore, be it 3-12 RESOLVED, That the Legislature of the State of Texas hereby 3-13 extend sincere condolences to the family of Dr. Marion Rice 3-14 Zetzman: his beloved wife, Sara; and his son, Phillip Marion; and, 3-15 be it further 3-16 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for his 3-17 family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas 3-18 Legislature, and that when the Legislature adjourns this day, it do 3-19 so in memory of Dr. Marion Zetzman.