R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The passing of former Colorado County Judge Lester 1-2 J. Cranek, Sr., on January 18, 1999, at the age of 76, has brought 1-3 a great loss to the many friends and relatives of this esteemed 1-4 gentleman; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Born on August 10, 1922, in Vox Populi, Judge Cranek 1-6 graduated from Garwood High School at the age of 15 and worked for 1-7 two years as a land surveyor before enrolling at Southwest Texas 1-8 Teachers College; and 1-9 WHEREAS, In 1943, he joined the United States Army and 1-10 proudly served his country in the South Pacific during World War 1-11 II, earning the rank of first sergeant; after the war, he continued 1-12 military service as an active member of the reserves until retiring 1-13 as a brigade intelligence commander; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Judge Cranek received a bachelor's degree in 1-15 agriculture with high honors from Southwest Texas Teachers College 1-16 and a master's degree in agriculture economics from Sam Houston 1-17 State University; he continued his pursuit of academic excellence 1-18 at Michigan State University, where he realized his goal of 1-19 obtaining a doctoral degree; and 1-20 WHEREAS, With his wife, the former Isabel Sladek, he enjoyed 1-21 a long and happy union which was blessed with eight children; 1-22 through the years their family was further enhanced with the 1-23 addition of 20 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; and 1-24 WHEREAS, Judge Cranek taught in the agriculture department at 2-1 Southwest Texas Teachers College before becoming a successful rice 2-2 farmer and rancher; his political involvement dates to the 1950s, 2-3 and he served as an advisor to presidents John F. Kennedy and 2-4 Lyndon B. Johnson on issues that included farm programs, rural 2-5 electrification, the Farmers Home Administration, and the National 2-6 Rice Advisory Committee; and 2-7 WHEREAS, In 1971, he began serving as Colorado County judge 2-8 at the request of the commissioners court; he won reelecton many 2-9 times and was a credit to the bench for nearly two decades, 2-10 enriching the quality of life for the county's citizens, especially 2-11 seniors; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Judge Cranek was instrumental in the establishment 2-13 of programs to provide seniors with such needed services as hot 2-14 meals, telephone assurance for those living alone, and 2-15 transportation for medical appointments and shopping trips; under 2-16 his compassionate guidance, the county implemented an ambulance 2-17 service and a mental health center as well as an opportunity center 2-18 for mentally retarded adults; and 2-19 WHEREAS, His support helped in the realization of a variety 2-20 of worthy projects, ranging from the restoration of the stained 2-21 glass dome in the Colorado County Courthouse to providing better 2-22 pay for sheriff's department employees; Judge Cranek also promoted 2-23 the addition of a public defender to the county court system and 2-24 the establishment of a bi-county substance abuse program; and 2-25 WHEREAS, Those who were privileged to share the friendship of 2-26 Judge Cranek will long miss his presence, and he will surely be 2-27 remembered with great affection and admiration for many years to 3-1 come; now, therefore, be it 3-2 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 3-3 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable Lester 3-4 J. Cranek, Sr., and extend sincere deepest sympathy to the members 3-5 of his family: to his wife, Isabel Cranek; to his sons, Lester J. 3-6 Cranek, Jr., Louis V. Cranek III, Kenneth W. Cranek, and Roy H. 3-7 Cranek; to his daughters, Florence Wesselski, Peggy Lund, Janeen 3-8 Cranek, and Pamela Hinze; to his sister, Earlyne Beken; to his 3-9 brothers, Louis V. Cranek, Jr., Leon H. Cranek, and James R. 3-10 "Fritz" Cranek; to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and 3-11 to the many other friends and relatives of this fine man; and, be 3-12 it further 3-13 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-14 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas 3-15 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of 3-16 Lester J. Cranek, Sr. Cook _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 194 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on April 8, 1999. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House