HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, The passing of Dr. Barton H. Warnock of Alpine on
1-2 June 9, 1998, at the age of 87, has brought a great loss to the
1-3 family and many friends of this renowned botanist and beloved
1-4 Texan; and
1-5 WHEREAS, Born in Christoval, Texas, on July 21, 1911, Dr.
1-6 Warnock spent most of his life in West Texas; and
1-7 WHEREAS, In 1937, he earned a bachelor of science degree from
1-8 Sul Ross State University in Alpine, where he successfully divided
1-9 his time between academics and athletics, for he was both a scholar
1-10 specializing in flora of the Big Bend region and a star running
1-11 back; in 1976, he was inducted into the school's sports hall of
1-12 fame; and
1-13 WHEREAS, A dedicated student, he earned a master's degree at
1-14 the University of Iowa and returned to Texas to earn his doctor's
1-15 degree in botany at The University of Texas in 1945; the following
1-16 year, Dr. Warnock began a teaching assignment at Sul Ross, a
1-17 professional association that would continue for more than three
1-18 decades; and
1-19 WHEREAS, Dr. Warnock specialized in plants of the
1-20 Trans-Pecos, and he discovered dozens of previously undescribed
1-21 plant species, many of which were named in his honor, making the
1-22 taxonomic moniker "warnockii" familiar to many generations of
1-23 botanists; and
1-24 WHEREAS, He was as devoted to teaching as he was to field
2-1 work, and many of Dr. Warnock's former students have become noted
2-2 scientists and botanists in their own right, each one able to
2-3 recall a story or two of the warmth and humor this native Texan
2-4 possessed and inspired in such abundance; and
2-5 WHEREAS, Dr. Warnock was a member of the Sul Ross faculty
2-6 from 1946 to 1979, and over the course of his tenure he served in a
2-7 number of important positions, from professor to chair of the
2-8 biology department and eventually director of the science division;
2-9 and
2-10 WHEREAS, His knowledge and experience were important assets
2-11 to the school, and officials and trustees there never forgot his
2-12 years of service and dedication; in 1979, the science building he
2-13 had helped to design in 1960 was renamed the Barton H. Warnock
2-14 Science Building; and
2-15 WHEREAS, After his official retirement, Dr. Warnock continued
2-16 his determined research and collecting; his collections from 1979
2-17 through 1989, which he donated to the Texas Parks and Wildlife
2-18 Department, represent a singularly important inventory of the
2-19 botanical diversity of the region; and
2-20 WHEREAS, In recognition of his outstanding contributions, the
2-21 east entrance to Big Bend Ranch State Park near Lajitas was named
2-22 the Barton Warnock Environmental Education Center; and
2-23 WHEREAS, Barton Warnock knew more about this part of Texas
2-24 than perhaps any other soul, and though his encyclopedic knowledge,
2-25 counsel, and good humor will be sorely missed, his spirit surely
2-26 lives on in the hearts and minds of all those who were privileged
2-27 to know him; now, therefore, be it
3-1 RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
3-2 hereby pay tribute to the life and work of Dr. Barton H. Warnock
3-3 and extend sincere sympathy to the family and many friends and
3-4 colleagues of this esteemed gentleman; and, be it further
3-5 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-6 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
3-7 House of Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in
3-8 memory of Dr. Barton H. Warnock.
Gallego
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 149 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on April 16, 1999.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 149 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the Senate on April 23, 1999.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _______________________
Date
_______________________
Governor