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