1-1                                       1

 1-2                         SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1004

 1-3                                  In Memory

 1-4                                     of

 1-5                              Edwin B. Buttery

 1-6           WHEREAS, The members of the Texas Senate mourned the passing

 1-7     of one of the state's beloved heroes, Colonel Edwin B. Buttery,

 1-8     who died April 7, 1997, at the age of 81; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, A man of immense courage and magnificent spirit,

1-10     Colonel Buttery devoted his life to his country and never wavered

1-11     from his duties to protect and defend our nation in times of peril;

1-12     and

1-13           WHEREAS, A native son, Edwin Buttery was born in

1-14     San Angelo, Texas, on July 14, 1915, to Albert James and

1-15     Dorothy Hoss Buttery; a 1933 graduate of San Angelo High School,

1-16     Edwin wanted to become an engineer, but difficult economic times

1-17     prevented him from attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology,

1-18     and instead, he attended San Angelo College on Massie Scholarships,

1-19     West Point Preparatory School in San Antonio, and San Angelo College

1-20     for a preengineering degree; and

1-21           WHEREAS, In 1937, Edwin entered the United States Military

1-22     Academy at West Point after receiving an appointment to the school

1-23     from Vice President John Nance Garner; he graduated four years later

 2-1     with a bachelor of science degree in general engineering; and

 2-2           WHEREAS, The young second lieutenant was assigned to

 2-3     Fort Sam Houston with the 2nd Infantry Division, but the advent of

 2-4     World War II resulted in his reassignment to the XVI Corps; in 1945,

 2-5     his unarmed L-4 Piper Cub was hit by a German Quad during the

 2-6     Rhineland Offensive while he was directing artillery fire on a gun

 2-7     emplacement; gravely wounded, he crashed behind enemy lines, but

 2-8     continued to transmit gun locations to our advancing troops; he was

 2-9     later rescued by American soldiers from a trench and underwent brain

2-10     surgery in Holland, one of many hospitalizations he was to endure

2-11     over several years; for his gallantry in action, Edwin was awarded

2-12     the Silver Star Medal and the Purple Heart; and

2-13           WHEREAS, Told by Army doctors that he would never fly again,

2-14     Colonel Buttery celebrated V-E Day in San Angelo by renting a

2-15     Piper Cub and enjoying flying in perfect sunny weather; while

2-16     on sick leave in September, 1945, he married his longtime fiancee,

2-17     Mary Elizabeth Glannen, who remained his devoted companion until her

2-18     death in 1982; he resumed his military career in 1946 as an artillery

2-19     officer at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where their son, Edwin, Jr., was born

2-20     that September; and

2-21           WHEREAS, During the Korean War, Colonel Buttery became a combat

2-22     intelligence officer in Tokyo under General Douglas MacArthur; for

2-23     his outstanding service, the general presented him with the Bronze

2-24     Star Medal; and

2-25           WHEREAS, From 1952 until 1954, the colonel was associate

 3-1     professor of military science at the University of Nebraska

 3-2     until the army transferred him to the University of Southern

 3-3     California, where he earned a master of science degree in

 3-4     mechanical engineering; upon graduation, Edwin was ordered to

 3-5     Fort Bliss, Texas, and White Sands Missile Range to work in

 3-6     research and development, specializing in surface to surface

 3-7     guided missiles; later, he commanded a guided missile battalion

 3-8     in Fort Sill, Oklahoma; and

 3-9           WHEREAS, After spending several months in Brooke Army Medical

3-10     Center for further recovery of his war wounds, he received orders

3-11     to go to Korea, where he was promoted to colonel and became

3-12     inspector general of I Corps; for his exceptionally meritorious

3-13     conduct in the performance of his duties, Colonel Buttery was

3-14     awarded the Legion of Merit upon his retirement in 1969; and

3-15           WHEREAS, He eventually returned to San Angelo where he lived

3-16     quietly, but kept busy with many philanthropic causes, including

3-17     the Mary E. Buttery Library at the Spring Hill School in

3-18     McLean, Virginia, where his wife had taught first grade; he

3-19     also financed the education of several friends and donated

3-20     generously to help found the Adult Day Care Center in San Angelo,

3-21     whose main building is known as the Mary E. Buttery Memorial

3-22     Building; and

3-23           WHEREAS, His dignity, steadfastness, strength of character,

3-24     and faithfulness characterized his entire life; Colonel Buttery

3-25     upheld the West Point motto:  "Duty, Honor, Country," and was an

 4-1     officer and a gentleman of firm principle, quick intelligence,

 4-2     wry humor, selfless service, and uncompromised honor; now,

 4-3     therefore, be it

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

 4-5     75th Legislature, hereby honor the life of Colonel Edwin B. Buttery

 4-6     and extend sincere condolences to his bereaved family:  his son

 4-7     and daughter-in-law, Edwin B. Buttery, Jr., and Vickie Buttery; his

 4-8     brothers, James Buttery, Lewis Buttery, and Robert Buttery; his

 4-9     sister, Dorothy Olson; and his nieces and nephews; and, be it

4-10     further

4-11           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for his

4-12     family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas Senate,

4-13     and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in memory of

4-14     Edwin B. Buttery.

4-15                                                               Wentworth

4-16                                  ______________________________________

4-17                                         President of the Senate

4-18                                       I hereby certify that the above

4-19                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

4-20                                  on June 2, 1997, by a rising vote.

4-21                                  ______________________________________

4-22                                         Secretary of the Senate

4-23                                  ______________________________________

4-24                                           Member, Texas Senate