By Alexander                                            H.R. No. 21
         76R3693 NBH-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The recent passing of J. O. Williams on December 27,
 1-2     1998, at the age of 87 has greatly saddened the family and many
 1-3     friends who knew, admired, and worked with this fine citizen; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Mr. Williams was born on April 13, 1911, in the town
 1-5     of Aquilla; in 1940, he moved to Frost, where he became a prominent
 1-6     member of the community; he served as mayor of Frost for 36 years
 1-7     and held other leadership positions such as  municipal judge and
 1-8     school board president; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, A professional cotton ginner, Mr. Williams won
1-10     several awards for excellence in that industry, including the
1-11     Horace Hayden Memorial Award for Cotton Ginner of the Year in 1972;
1-12     he was a lifetime member of the Texas Cotton Ginners Association
1-13     and a former president of the Texas Independent Cotton Ginners
1-14     Association and the Texas Cotton Ginners Association; and
1-15           WHEREAS, In addition to his many professional
1-16     accomplishments, Mr. Williams was a devoted family man who was
1-17     preceded in death by his first wife, Elzee, in 1965 and by his
1-18     second wife, Estelle, in 1998; and
1-19           WHEREAS, Mr. Williams lived life to the fullest and he will
1-20     long be remembered for his zeal and vitality;  and
1-21           WHEREAS, Mr. Williams will be deeply missed, and it is
1-22     fitting that we pay tribute to his memory, for his leadership and
1-23     dedication left an indelible mark on the community he was proud to
1-24     call home; now, therefore, be it
 2-1           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
 2-2     Legislature hereby honor the memory of J. O. Williams and extend
 2-3     sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his son, Clifford
 2-4     Williams, and his wife, Karen; to his daughter, Barbara McMinn, and
 2-5     her husband, Mike; to his stepson, Larry Vandavier; to his
 2-6     stepdaughter, Carol Harris, and her husband, Mike; to his sister,
 2-7     Frances Hickman; to his 10 grandchildren and 11
 2-8     great-grandchildren; and to the many other relatives and friends of
 2-9     this fine gentleman; and, be it further
2-10           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-11     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
2-12     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
2-13     J. O. Williams.