R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The family and many friends of James R. Rycroft were
 1-2     greatly saddened by his passing on May 9, 1998, at the age of 72,
 1-3     and it is appropriate that we honor this man and his
 1-4     accomplishments at this time; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, On May 22, 1944, Mr. Rycroft was united in matrimony
 1-6     to the former Sarah M. Richie, with whom he shared nearly 54 years
 1-7     of marriage, and their union was blessed with a fine family; and
 1-8           WHEREAS, Shortly after his marriage, he enlisted in the U.S.
 1-9     Navy and sailed on the aircraft carriers U.S.S. Kadashan Bay, in
1-10     World War II, and Bodeing Strait, during the Korean War; this
1-11     remarkable man fought in seven major engagements during his
1-12     military career and earned a Navy commendation of service; and
1-13           WHEREAS, Upon completing his final tour of duty, Mr. Rycroft
1-14     returned to his hometown of Sweetwater where he worked as a
1-15     television repairman and a humanitarian search-and-rescue
1-16     scuba-diving instructor; in 1962 he became the owner of Vending
1-17     Varieties; and
1-18           WHEREAS, Known for his love of the Sweetwater community, he
1-19     began the Community Thanksgiving Feed in 1974 and served hundreds
1-20     of people each year; Mr. Rycroft was also instrumental in raising
1-21     money for the first physical therapy room at the local hospital;
1-22     and
1-23           WHEREAS, A member and former president of the Sweetwater
1-24     Lions Club, he had 15 years of perfect attendance and was chosen
 2-1     "Lion of the Year" in  1986 and 1987; Mr. Rycroft worked diligently
 2-2     to raise money for the blind and visually impaired, as well as for
 2-3     other needy citizens; and
 2-4           WHEREAS, In addition to his service with the Lions Club, this
 2-5     civic-minded individual was a board member of Goodwill Industries,
 2-6     City Board Adjustments, and the Texas Merchandise Vending
 2-7     Association; and
 2-8           WHEREAS, James R. Rycroft was a man of integrity, compassion,
 2-9     and generosity whose laughter and lively spirit will be most fondly
2-10     missed by the many people whose lives he touched, and it is indeed
2-11     a privilege to recognize him at this time; now, therefore, be it
2-12           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-13     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of James R. Rycroft and
2-14     extend sincere sympathy to his wife, Sarah Rycroft; to the members
2-15     of his immediate family, Sherri and Chip Foster; Joyce and Marvin
2-16     Cole; Kirk and Angela Foster; Brooke and Scott Hall; Melissa and
2-17     Phillip Cole; to his brother, Edgar Rycroft; to his cousins, Sandra
2-18     and Sherman Cox; to his nieces and nephews; and to the many other
2-19     relatives and friends of this esteemed gentleman; and, be it
2-20     further
2-21           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-22     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
2-23     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
2-24     James R. Rycroft.
                                                                      Counts
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 175 was unanimously adopted by a
         rising vote of the House on April 8, 1999.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House