1-1                                       1

 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 728

 1-3                                  In Memory

 1-4                                     of

 1-5                             Marion Benson Blake

 1-6           WHEREAS, The recent passing of Marion Benson Blake on

 1-7     May 4, 1997, at the age of 69, has brought a great loss to the

 1-8     family and many friends of this accomplished woman; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, Born in Lubbock on December 1, 1927, Mrs. Blake

1-10     was a dedicated volunteer and civic activist in this West Texas

1-11     community she was proud to call home; among the many organizations

1-12     she supported were the Well Baby Clinic, the Junior League of

1-13     Lubbock, and the Lubbock Woman's Club; and

1-14           WHEREAS, This remarkable woman was active with the Lubbock

1-15     Crippled Children's Society, the United Way of Lubbock, and the

1-16     Assembly Club; she also volunteered her time and energy as a member

1-17     of the Texas Tech Chancellor's Council and as a proponent of the

1-18     Achievement Rewards for College Scientists; and

1-19           WHEREAS, A longtime friend of President George W. Bush and

1-20     First Lady Barbara Bush, Mrs. Blake became acquainted with the

1-21     Bushes during the early days of Midland's oil boom; through the

1-22     years, their friendship blossomed, and Mrs. Blake and her husband,

1-23     Robert, had the good fortune of traveling to Asia to visit the

 2-1     Bushes during the former president's tenure as ambassador to the

 2-2     People's Republic of China; and

 2-3           WHEREAS, Known for her enthusiasm and good nature,

 2-4     Mrs. Blake was a graduate of Lubbock High School and attended

 2-5     Texas Tech University and The University of Texas; a proud member

 2-6     of Pi Beta Sorority, she was a devoted member of First United

 2-7     Methodist Church and represented her hometown as the Duchess of

 2-8     Lubbock at the Fiesta San Jacinto in San Antonio; and

 2-9           WHEREAS, Marion Benson Blake was a woman of rare faith and

2-10     compassion whose time with us was much too brief; although her

2-11     generosity and leadership will be missed by all who knew her, her

2-12     spirit will no doubt live on in the hearts and minds of the many

2-13     individuals whose lives she touched for many years to come; now,

2-14     therefore, be it

2-15           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

2-16     75th Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life of

2-17     Marion Benson Blake and extend sincere condolences to the members

2-18     of her family:  her husband, Robert W. Blake; her daughters,

2-19     Nan Leavell and Sharon Bromberg; her grandchildren; and the many

2-20     other relatives and friends of this beloved woman; and, be it

2-21     further

2-22           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared

2-23     for the members of her family as an expression of deepest sympathy

2-24     from the Texas Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it

2-25     do so in memory of Marion Benson Blake. 

 3-1                                                                  Duncan

 3-2                                  ______________________________________

 3-3                                         President of the Senate

 3-4                                       I hereby certify that the above

 3-5                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

 3-6                                  on May 14, 1997, by a rising vote.

 3-7                                  ______________________________________

 3-8                                         Secretary of the Senate

 3-9                                  ______________________________________

3-10                                           Member, Texas Senate