By Keffer                                             H.C.R. No. 28
         76R154 JTR-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, The family and many friends of the Honorable Lester
 1-2     Clark were greatly saddened by his passing on February 1, 1998, at
 1-3     the age of 81, and we join them in mourning the loss of this
 1-4     notable Texan; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Born October 5, 1916, in Abilene, Mr. Clark moved to
 1-6     Breckenridge with his family at the age of five, and over the
 1-7     course of his lifetime he distinguished himself as one of that
 1-8     community's most prominent citizens; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, After graduating from Breckenridge High School, he
1-10     attended Southwestern University, and on receiving his bachelor's
1-11     degree in 1935 he returned to his hometown, where he worked for an
1-12     attorney and taught school before becoming involved in the oil and
1-13     gas industry; and
1-14           WHEREAS, He entered political life in 1939 as a member of the
1-15     Texas Legislature, and he served the citizens of Stephens and Palo
1-16     Pinto counties with the utmost distinction during his three terms
1-17     in the state's House of Representatives; and
1-18           WHEREAS, On March 14, 1941, he married Virginia Dye, and they
1-19     enjoyed a union that continued to grow in mutual affection,
1-20     devotion, and respect until his passing; and
1-21           WHEREAS, During his long and successful career as a
1-22     businessman, Mr. Clark worked with a number of firms; the founder
1-23     of Ibex Company, he also served as president of the Graridge
1-24     Corporation and chaired the boards of the Petroleum Corporation of
 2-1     Texas, Breck Operating Corporation, and States, Inc.; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, A vital and valued member of the community, he
 2-3     served as an advisory director of the Small Business Administration
 2-4     and as director of both the Breckenridge Industrial Foundation and
 2-5     the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce, also serving as the latter
 2-6     organization's president; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, Well known as a steadfast advocate of learning and
 2-8     the arts, this fine gentleman was founder and president of the
 2-9     Breckenridge Library and Fine Arts Foundation and was a director of
2-10     the Swenson Memorial Museum, in addition to having served as vice
2-11     chairman of the Lamar State College of Technology Board of Regents
2-12     and the Board of Trustees of Texas Christian University; and
2-13           WHEREAS, The high esteem in which Mr. Clark was held by his
2-14     community is aptly reflected in the many honors he was accorded,
2-15     for he was twice named Citizen of the Year by the Breckenridge
2-16     Chamber of Commerce and was also a recipient of the Distinguished
2-17     Citizen Award; a leader in his chosen profession, he was presented
2-18     with the Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association's Distinguished
2-19     Service Award as well as the West Central Texas Oil and Gas
2-20     Association's Wildcatter Award; and
2-21           WHEREAS, He drew spiritual strength and sustenance from his
2-22     association with St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, where he served as
2-23     senior warden of the Church Vestry, and he was a familiar and
2-24     welcome presence among his fellow worshipers; and
2-25           WHEREAS, Mr. Clark took great pride in his large and loving
2-26     family, and he and Mrs. Clark welcomed the arrival of each new
2-27     member of the family with renewed delight; and
 3-1           WHEREAS, Throughout the course of his lifetime, Lester Clark
 3-2     was widely known as a businessman of ability and integrity, a
 3-3     dedicated public servant, and an indispensable asset to his
 3-4     community; though he will be deeply missed, his spirit will surely
 3-5     live on for many years to come in the hearts of all those whose
 3-6     lives he touched; now, therefore, be it
 3-7           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
 3-8     hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable Lester Clark and
 3-9     extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife,
3-10     Virginia Dye Clark; to his children and their spouses, Sara Clark
3-11     Armstrong and Robert Armstrong, G. Eddie Clark and Sara Clark, and
3-12     David Clark and Lyn Clark; to his grandchildren and their spouses,
3-13     Clark Armstrong, Kyle Armstrong, Elizabeth and Greg Walsh,
3-14     Catherine and Karl Chiao, Courtney and Mike Grigsby, and Barrett
3-15     Dye and Dawn Clark; and to his great-grandchildren Catherine Walsh
3-16     and Avery Chiao; and, be it further
3-17           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-18     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
3-19     House of Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in
3-20     memory of Lester Clark.