By Gallego                                           H.C.R. No. 151
         76R673 JTR-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, The family and many friends of former Alpine mayor
 1-2     William James "Bill" Sohl were greatly saddened by his passing on
 1-3     May 6, 1998, at the age of 77, and we join them in mourning their
 1-4     loss; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Born November 13, 1920, in Pittsfield,
 1-6     Massachusetts, Mr. Sohl was graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic
 1-7     Institute before serving as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army
 1-8     Air Corps; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, Over the course of his military service he was
1-10     stationed at Marfa Air Base, during which time he met and married
1-11     the former Mary Jo Richerdson, with whom he had a fine family; and
1-12           WHEREAS, In 1982, Mr. Sohl and the former Merrian Wise were
1-13     joined in wedlock, and she remained his devoted companion
1-14     throughout his life; and
1-15           WHEREAS, A longtime Alpine resident, he was a rancher and
1-16     businessman of ability and integrity, and was also well known for
1-17     his involvement in local government, serving on the city council
1-18     for more than a decade and as mayor for four years; and
1-19           WHEREAS, This vital and valued member of the community lent
1-20     his time and talents to a number of worthy endeavors, including the
1-21     Alpine Chamber of Commerce, American Legion Post 79, the Soil
1-22     Conservation District, the Sul Ross State University Athletic
1-23     Department, the Alpine Public Library, and the Alpine Independent
1-24     School District, and his was also a welcome presence at Alpine's
 2-1     First Presbyterian Church, where he served on the Session Committee
 2-2     and as a deacon and elder; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, Throughout his life, Bill Sohl distinguished himself
 2-4     as a treasured asset to his friends, family, and community, and
 2-5     although he is greatly missed, his spirit lives on in the hearts of
 2-6     all those fortunate enough to have known him; now, therefore, be it
 2-7           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
 2-8     hereby pay tribute to the life of William James "Bill" Sohl and
 2-9     extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife,
2-10     Merrian Sohl; to his children, J. Ric Sohl, Rochelle Sohl Waite,
2-11     M.D., Robin Sohl Ritchie, Craig Wise, and Lisa Wise; to his
2-12     grandchildren, Mary Jo Ellig, Eris E. Sanders, William James
2-13     Ritchie, Gregory A. Green, Bryan S. Ritchie, Alan M. Ritchie, James
2-14     Corrick Sohl, Dan Sherrell, Athena Dawn Sherrell, Tara L. Bingham,
2-15     Cody Justin Wise, and Heather Blaskie Wise; and to his
2-16     great-grandchildren, Connor James Ritchie, Kendall Sohl Ellig,
2-17     Keenon Bea Sherrell, Brianna Danniel Sherrell, Britteny Nicole
2-18     Dawkins, and Chelsea Renea Bingham; and, be it further
2-19           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-20     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
2-21     House of Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in
2-22     memory of William James "Bill" Sohl.