1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 629 1-3 WHEREAS, On Friday, May 2, 1997, the Senate of Texas will 1-4 commemorate the 150th anniversary of the election of the first 1-5 Lieutenant Governor of the State of Texas; Albert Clinton Horton of 1-6 Matagorda County first took office on May 2, 1846, in Austin, Texas, 1-7 at the original State Capitol Building, and the Texas Senate is 1-8 proud to honor the living former lieutenant governors on this day 1-9 with a small ceremony; and 1-10 WHEREAS, The 35th Lieutenant Governor of the State of Texas 1-11 who presided over the Senate of Texas was Preston E. Smith; and 1-12 WHEREAS, Born on a tenant farm in Williamson County on 1-13 March 8, 1912, Preston Smith was educated first in a one-room school 1-14 in Mount Prospect; his family moved to a farm in Dawson County in 1-15 1923; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Young and determined to acquire an education, 1-17 Preston worked his way through high school and went on to attend 1-18 Texas Tech University; and 1-19 WHEREAS, Always working at a variety of jobs to obtain his 1-20 college degree, Preston operated a service station, picked cotton, 1-21 cleaned windows, and operated student boarding houses; and 1-22 WHEREAS, Preston E. Smith met his bride, Ima Smith of Ralls, 1-23 in economics class where he sat next to her; the happy couple was 2-1 married on June 20, 1935, and they created a warm and loving home 2-2 for their children, Mickey and Jan; and 2-3 WHEREAS, After he received his business administration degree 2-4 in 1934, Mr. Smith found an excellent business opportunity in movie 2-5 theaters in which he invested with a friend; by 1944 the theaters 2-6 had grown to a six-theater chain; and 2-7 WHEREAS, Dedicated to public service, Preston Smith ran for 2-8 and was elected to the 49th Legislature of the State of Texas; his 2-9 popularity among his constituents assured his reelection to the next 2-10 two legislatures; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Famous for his effectiveness as a politician, he ran 2-12 for the Texas Senate and represented his constituency through the 2-13 55th, 56th, and 57th legislatures; and 2-14 WHEREAS, In 1962, Preston Smith ran for lieutenant governor 2-15 and was elected to that office handily; presiding over the 58th 2-16 through the 60th legislatures, he was responsible for attracting 2-17 new business, investments, and industry to the state; and 2-18 WHEREAS, Elected governor in 1968, Preston Smith was a popular 2-19 governor and was reelected in 1970; and 2-20 WHEREAS, A highly respected public figure, he is retired now 2-21 after many years of superb public service, and he maintains an 2-22 active interest in state politics; for four years he served on the 2-23 Coordinating Board, Texas College and University System; now, 2-24 therefore, be it 2-25 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-1 75th Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the career of service of 3-2 former Lieutenant Governor Preston Smith; and, be it further 3-3 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 3-4 him as an expression of the highest regard and esteem of the 3-5 Texas Senate. 3-6 Truan 3-7 Armbrister Galloway Ogden 3-8 Barrientos Harris Patterson 3-9 Bivins Haywood Ratliff 3-10 Brown Lindsay Shapiro 3-11 Cain Lucio Shapleigh 3-12 Carona Luna Sibley 3-13 Duncan Madla Wentworth 3-14 Ellis Moncrief West 3-15 Fraser Nelson Whitmire 3-16 Gallegos Nixon Zaffirini 3-17 Bullock, President of the Senate 3-18 ______________________________________ 3-19 President of the Senate 3-20 I hereby certify that the above 3-21 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-22 on May 1, 1997. 3-23 ______________________________________ 3-24 Secretary of the Senate 3-25 ______________________________________ 3-26 Dean of the Senate