By Gallego                                           H.C.R. No. 145
         76R5726 JBR-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of the Honorable Gene Hendryx on
 1-2     December 21, 1998, at the age of 71, has brought a great loss to
 1-3     the family and many friends of this beloved individual; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Born July 16, 1927, on a farm in Ochiltree County,
 1-5     Mr. Hendryx joined the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of 15 and
 1-6     served in the Pacific Theatre during World War II, participating in
 1-7     the Solomon Islands, Guam, and Iwo Jima campaigns; and
 1-8           WHEREAS, Determined to receive an education, Mr. Hendryx
 1-9     garnered bachelor's and master's degrees from Sul Ross State
1-10     University; he was honored as that institution's first and only
1-11     alumnus emeritus and was recognized as a distinguished student by
1-12     the university; and
1-13           WHEREAS, Well known as a radio pioneer, Mr. Hendryx started
1-14     his career in college while working for KVLF in Alpine as a
1-15     part-time announcer; he was eventually promoted to full-time
1-16     announcer and gained a controlling interest in the station, and, at
1-17     the age of 33, he became the youngest president of the Texas
1-18     Association of Broadcasters; and
1-19           WHEREAS, A former state representative, Mr. Hendryx was
1-20     elected to the 58th, 59th, and 60th Texas legislatures; he was
1-21     appointed to the Texas Historical Commission and the Texas Vending
1-22     Machine Commission and served two terms as a Brewster County
1-23     commissioner; and
1-24           WHEREAS, In addition to his vast and diverse career in
 2-1     politics and radio, Mr. Hendryx pursued his passion for writing and
 2-2     published two books:  Semper Fi, which depicts the life of a South
 2-3     Texas Marine during World War II, and Voice of the Last Frontier, a
 2-4     history of the Big Bend territory and the milestones that shaped it
 2-5     over the past 50 years; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, After the passing of his first wife, Lucille,
 2-7     Mr. Hendryx established the Gene and Lucille Hendryx Alpha Chi
 2-8     Scholarship at Sul Ross State University, the largest individually
 2-9     endowed scholarship at SRSU, and this serves as a monument to this
2-10     fine gentleman's benevolent nature; and
2-11           WHEREAS, Those who were privileged to share the love and
2-12     friendship of Gene Hendryx will long miss his presence and
2-13     guidance, and he will surely be remembered with great affection and
2-14     admiration for  many years to come; now, therefore, be it
2-15           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-16     hereby pay tribute to the life of Gene Hendryx and extend sincere
2-17     sympathy to the members of his family:  to his wife, Nancy Hendryx;
2-18     to his sons, Ray, Forrest, and Houston Hendryx; to his grandsons,
2-19     Travis, Otis, and Luke; to his granddaughters, Lindsay, Jennifer,
2-20     and Emily; to his brothers, Burt and Jimmy Hendryx; to his sisters,
2-21     Earlene Ames and Naomi Thompson; and to the many other relatives
2-22     and friends of this distinguished gentleman; and, be it further
2-23           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-24     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
2-25     House of Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in
2-26     memory of Gene Hendryx.