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