1-1                                       1

 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 735

 1-3           WHEREAS, Bill Parks Bar-B-Q restaurant located in

 1-4     Central El Paso was recently recognized by Texas Monthly as one

 1-5     of the 50 best barbecue joints in the state, and the Texas Senate

 1-6     takes pleasure in congratulating the master chef for receiving this

 1-7     prestigious honor; and

 1-8           WHEREAS, For the past 32 years, Bill Parks has been cooking

 1-9     succulent ribs and brisket over a wood fire for eight hours a day,

1-10     just the way his grandmother in Concord, North Carolina, taught him

1-11     when he was a youngster; and

1-12           WHEREAS, Satisfied customers return again and again to savor

1-13     the smoked beef and pork straight from the pit and side dishes--bowls

1-14     of rice and gravy, potato salad, and pinto beans, topped off with

1-15     apple cobbler and banana pudding, all flavored by Bill's own hand; and

1-16           WHEREAS, Originally planning to open an electronics shop,

1-17     Bill changed his mind when his friend, the late Goose Tatum, changed

1-18     his mind about opening a restaurant and Bill leased the restaurant

1-19     instead; at the time, there were only three barbecue restaurants

1-20     in El Paso; and

1-21           WHEREAS, Using oak, pecan, and mesquite woods in his pit like

1-22     the old-timers, Bill Parks showed other people what barbecue should

1-23     be like and is now considered the grandfather of barbecue in El Paso;

 2-1     a Louisiana buddy taught him how to make a tangy, spice sauce; and

 2-2           WHEREAS, One of 13 brothers raised by his grandmother on her

 2-3     farm in North Carolina, Bill was always around her kitchen watching

 2-4     the food; he credits his grandmother for his successful business

 2-5     where he still uses her recipes; and

 2-6           WHEREAS, After a career in the United States Army as a master

 2-7     sergeant, he retired in El Paso and worked for Southwest Airlines

 2-8     for two years; he has been married to his wife, Eunice, for 30

 2-9     years and is the father of three grown children, Edwin, Leslie Ann,

2-10     and Bennie; and

2-11           WHEREAS, Retaining the traditional methods of preparing

2-12     tender, mouth-watering barbecue, Bill Parks has built an enviable

2-13     reputation as one of the best barbecue cooks in the State of Texas;

2-14     now, therefore, be it

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

2-16     75th Legislature, hereby extend hearty congratulations to

2-17     Bill Parks and extend best wishes to him for continued success

2-18     in the years ahead; and, be it further

2-19           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for

2-20     Mr. Parks as an expression of the esteem of the Texas Senate.

2-21                                                               Shapleigh

2-22                                  ______________________________________

2-23                                          President of the Senate

2-24                                       I hereby certify that the above

2-25                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

2-26                                  on May 14, 1997.

2-27                                  ______________________________________

2-28                                          Secretary of the Senate

2-29                                  ______________________________________

 3-1                                           Member, Texas Senate