By Gallego                                           H.C.R. No. 254
         76R575 WMS-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of Chicora "Chic" Ann Lee Graham
 1-2     Williams on April 13, 1998, at the age of 92, brought a great loss
 1-3     to the many friends and relatives of this esteemed Fort Stockton
 1-4     resident; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Mrs. Williams was born December 17, 1905, to Evie
 1-6     Lee Martin Graham and Oscar Henry Harrison Graham, on the Osage
 1-7     Reservation and relocated with her family at the age of six months
 1-8     to Sterling City, Texas, where she spent much of her youth; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, She began her higher education at Trinity University
1-10     and continued her pursuit of academic excellence at Sul Ross State
1-11     Teachers College, where she attained a bachelor of science degree
1-12     in education and was also awarded the title "Sul Ross Beauty"; and
1-13           WHEREAS, On September 10, 1928, she was married to Clayton
1-14     Wheat Williams; the couple moved to Fort Stockton and shared more
1-15     than half a century of happiness together until his passing in
1-16     1983; and
1-17           WHEREAS, Truly devoted to the cause of education, this
1-18     exceptional individual was a classroom teacher at Butz Elementary
1-19     School during World War II and gave freely of her time and energy
1-20     to the PTA; and
1-21           WHEREAS, She was also a member of a number of other worthy
1-22     civic organizations, including the Fort Stockton Literary Club,
1-23     Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the Republic of
1-24     Texas, Fort Stockton Historical Society, and the Tuesday Bridge
 2-1     Club; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, In recognition of her many significant contributions
 2-3     to the betterment of her community, Mrs. Williams was chosen as
 2-4     First Lady of Fort Stockton and served with her husband as Grand
 2-5     Marshal of the water carnival parade; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, Chicora Williams was a woman of rare compassion and
 2-7     generosity; although her warmth and dedication to others have been
 2-8     greatly missed, her remarkable spirit surely lives on in the hearts
 2-9     of the many people whose lives she touched during her time on this
2-10     earth; now, therefore, be it
2-11           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-12     hereby pay tribute to the life of Chicora Williams and extend
2-13     sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her son and
2-14     daughter-in-law, Clayton Williams, Jr., and his wife, Modesta; to
2-15     her daughter and son-in-law, Janet Williams Pollard and her
2-16     husband, Robert; to her grandchildren, Kelvie Lee, Allyson,
2-17     Clayton, Jeff, Chicora Modesta, Scott, Clay Graham, and Adam; to
2-18     her great-grandchildren, Michael Clayton, Anna Lee, Joshua, Jered,
2-19     Ashlee, Meredith, Stephanie, Clayton, Mary Claire, and Addison
2-20     Chicora; to her nurse, Laura Costillo; and to the many other
2-21     friends and relatives of this beloved woman; and, be it further
2-22           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-23     prepared for the members of her family and that when the Texas
2-24     House of Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in
2-25     memory of Chicora "Chic" Ann Lee Graham Williams.