HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The family and many friends of Hallie C. Stillwell 1-2 were greatly saddened by her passing on August 18, 1997, at the age 1-3 of 99, and we join them in mourning the loss of a true Texas 1-4 legend; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Born October 20, 1897, in Waco, Mrs. Stillwell moved 1-6 to the Big Bend area with her parents in 1910, and by the age of 20 1-7 she was teaching school in Presidio, armed with a pistol to protect 1-8 her students from Pancho Villa's men, who were known to make raids 1-9 across the border; and 1-10 WHEREAS, In 1918, she met and married rancher Roy Stillwell, 1-11 and the couple enjoyed a relationship that continued to grow in 1-12 mutual affection, admiration, and respect until his death in 1948; 1-13 and 1-14 WHEREAS, At that time, Mrs. Stillwell took over the 1-15 management of Stillwell Ranch, performing whatever jobs were 1-16 necessary; a crack shot with a pistol, she broke broncos, branded 1-17 cattle, built fences, and killed coyotes to keep the operation 1-18 running throughout the drought-plagued 1950s; and 1-19 WHEREAS, To bring in extra income, she set up camps of 1-20 laborers to extract wax from the desert plants that grew wild on 1-21 her ranch, and she continued to sell wax gathered in this fashion 1-22 until the 1960s; and 1-23 WHEREAS, She also took work as a journalist, writing for the 1-24 Alpine Avalanche, the San Angelo Standard-Times, and the El Paso 2-1 Herald-Post for more than two decades, and she put her literary 2-2 talents to work again in 1990 by publishing her autobiography, 2-3 entitled I'll Gather My Geese; and 2-4 WHEREAS, In 1962, declaring herself "too old to break 2-5 broncs," Mrs. Stillwell ran for and won the office of justice of 2-6 the peace for Brewster County, a position she held for 15 years; 2-7 and 2-8 WHEREAS, Well known far beyond the borders of the Lone Star 2-9 State, she came to epitomize Texas for many people, and her unique 2-10 role in the state's history was underscored when she was inducted 2-11 into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Texas 2-12 Women's Hall of Fame in 1994; and 2-13 WHEREAS, Texans are known throughout the world for their 2-14 hardy resourcefulness and generosity of spirit, and these qualities 2-15 found their truest expression in the life of Hallie Stillwell; 2-16 although she will be greatly missed, she will live on in the hearts 2-17 of all those who had the good fortune to know her; now, therefore, 2-18 be it 2-19 RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-20 hereby pay tribute to the life of Hallie Crawford Stillwell and 2-21 extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her 2-22 daughter, Dadie Stillwell Potter; to her sons, Roy Stillwell and 2-23 Guy Stillwell; to her sister, Glen Harris; and to her 2-24 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; 2-25 and, be it further 2-26 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-27 prepared for the members of her family and that when the Texas 3-1 House of Representatives and Senate adjourn today, they do so in 3-2 memory of Hallie C. Stillwell. Gallego _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 169 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. 169 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the Senate on April 23, 1999. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _______________________ Date _______________________ Governor