By:  Sibley                                           S.C.R. No. 79

         97S1011/1                           

                            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.