1-1                                       1

 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 845

 1-3                                  In Memory

 1-4                                     of

 1-5                                Watt Matthews

 1-6           WHEREAS, The State of Texas has lost a truly great Texan

 1-7     with the passing of cattleman Watt Matthews, who died at his

 1-8     beloved Lambshead Ranch on April 13, 1997, at the age of 98; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, Watkins Reynolds "Watt" Matthews was the youngest

1-10     of nine children born to Sallie Reynolds and John Alexander Matthews,

1-11     whose family settled in 1858 on the Clear Fork of the Brazos River

1-12     on the edge of Comanche territory; he was born on February 1, 1899,

1-13     in a ranch bunkhouse and continued to live much of his life in the

1-14     bunkhouse, where he slept on a cot; and

1-15           WHEREAS, After graduating from Princeton University in

1-16     1921, young Watt returned to Lambshead Ranch and began keeping

1-17     books for his father; when his father died in 1941, Watt and his

1-18     brother, Joe, assumed joint control of the 45,000-acre spread,

1-19     and Watt helped guide the family business for 56 years; and

1-20           WHEREAS, Held in the highest respect by members of the cattle

1-21     industry, Watt Matthews dedicated his life to preserving the ranch

1-22     settled by his forebears and was a pioneer in the work to eradicate

1-23     screwworm; and

 2-1           WHEREAS, His interest in maintaining the ranch and

 2-2     recording its history that is so closely linked to the development

 2-3     of the state occupied much of his day-to-day activities; and

 2-4           WHEREAS, Remembered as a great statesman of the cattle

 2-5     industry and a fine gentleman, Watt Matthews personified those

 2-6     qualities that Texans hold dear to their hearts; his life was

 2-7     shaped by the people who shared his love of the land, and he

 2-8     remained true to the traditions and values of his generation; and

 2-9           WHEREAS, His family and friends are all richer for having

2-10     had Watt Matthews in their midst; he leaves a legacy of commitment

2-11     and devotion to the land that will be cherished by future

2-12     generations of Texans; now, therefore, be it

2-13           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

2-14     75th Legislature, hereby extend deepest sympathy to the family

2-15     of Watkins Reynolds "Watt" Matthews; and, be it further

2-16           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared

2-17     for his family as an expression of profound regret from the

2-18     Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it

2-19     do so in memory of Watt Matthews.

2-20                                                                  Fraser

2-21                                                                  Bivins

2-22                                                                  Duncan

2-23                                  ______________________________________

2-24                                          President of the Senate

2-25                                       I hereby certify that the above

2-26                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

2-27                                  on May 24, 1997, by a rising vote.

2-28                                  ______________________________________

2-29                                          Secretary of the Senate

2-30                                  ______________________________________

2-31                                           Member, Texas Senate

 3-1                                  ______________________________________

 3-2                                           Member, Texas Senate

 3-3                                  ______________________________________

 3-4                                           Member, Texas Senate