1-1                                       1

 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 989

 1-3                                  In Memory

 1-4                                     of

 1-5                              Alexander Hieken

 1-6           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins citizens

 1-7     of Houston and people across the nation in mourning the death of

 1-8     Alexander Hieken; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, Admired for his exceptional contributions to his

1-10     state and the nation, Al dedicated his life to the betterment of

1-11     his fellow citizens; he was known throughout the state for his

1-12     involvement in the labor movement to which he devoted much of his

1-13     time and energies; and

1-14           WHEREAS, A native of Saint Louis, Missouri, Al Hieken

1-15     graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor's degree

1-16     in journalism in 1929; he began his newspaper career as a reporter

1-17     on the El Paso Post and was promoted to state editor, telegraph

1-18     editor, and assistant make-up editor; and

1-19           WHEREAS, He helped organize the local El Paso Newspaper

1-20     Guild and was later elected president, leading collective

1-21     bargaining sessions on behalf of editorial department employees;

1-22     and

1-23           WHEREAS, A veteran of the United States Navy, Al Hieken

 2-1     served his country with honor during World War II aboard a

 2-2     destroyer escort, where he was a radar operator and public

 2-3     relations officer for the ship; and

 2-4           WHEREAS, After the war, Mr. Hieken returned to his newspaper

 2-5     work and became very active in assisting various labor organizations,

 2-6     including the Bakery Workers, the United Automobile Workers, the

 2-7     Amalgamated Clothing Workers, and the national Congress of

 2-8     Industrial Organizations; and

 2-9           WHEREAS, When he became editor and publisher of The

2-10     San Antonio Weekly Dispatch, Mr. Hieken divided his time between

2-11     his home in Houston and traveling to San Antonio to publish the

2-12     paper; he later worked in Austin for the Long News Service which

2-13     covered the Texas Legislature for state newspapers; and

2-14           WHEREAS, Elected by his peers to serve on the Texas Silver

2-15     Haired Legislature, he was chairman of the Information Service

2-16     Committee and a member of its Executive Committee; and

2-17           WHEREAS, A lifelong Democrat who was closely involved in many

2-18     of the party's political organizations, Mr. Hieken was a member of

2-19     the Harris County Democratic Party, the NASA-Clear Creek Democrats,

2-20     and the Democrats 2000; and

2-21           WHEREAS, During President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty

2-22     program, Al Hieken was press relations director for the Houston

2-23     office of the Manpower Training Program and later became its

2-24     director; and

2-25           WHEREAS, His wise counsel and commitment to the causes he

 3-1     held dear will be remembered with gratitude by all those whose

 3-2     lives were touched by his efforts on their behalf; now, therefore,

 3-3     be it

 3-4           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

 3-5     75th Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the family

 3-6     of Alexander Hieken; and, be it further

 3-7           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for his

 3-8     family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas Senate,

 3-9     and when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in memory of

3-10     Al Hieken.

3-11                                                                Whitmire

3-12                                  ______________________________________

3-13                                         President of the Senate

3-14                                       I hereby certify that the above

3-15                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

3-16                                  on May 31, 1997, by a rising vote.

3-17                                  ______________________________________

3-18                                         Secretary of the Senate

3-19                                  ______________________________________

3-20                                           Member, Texas Senate