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