By Brown of Kaufman H.R. No. 348 76R7694 BE-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, For many decades, native Texan Paul Mathews has 1-2 committed himself to bettering his community and his state, and his 1-3 efforts in education, civic improvement, and conservation justly 1-4 merit special legislative recognition; and 1-5 WHEREAS, He was born on January 3, 1905, in Floyd, in western 1-6 Hunt County; following in his father's tradition, Mr. Mathews 1-7 entered the field of banking and enjoyed a 49-year career with 1-8 First Greenville National Bank, working his way up from teller to 1-9 chairman of the board; and 1-10 WHEREAS, His concern and ability earned him an appointment 1-11 to the Greenville School Board, which soon led to his presidency of 1-12 that organization in the 1940s; shortly after, he ran for office 1-13 and began a notable 35-year tenure with the State Board of 1-14 Education; and 1-15 WHEREAS, His high standards and great dedication to local and 1-16 state education have earned him much respect, and today the 1-17 Greenville High School auditorium is named in his honor; and 1-18 WHEREAS, Mr. Mathews has been equally committed to civic and 1-19 charitable concerns, and he has been an invaluable member of many 1-20 organizations, including DrugFree Greenville, the Texas Society for 1-21 Crippled Children, and the Greenville Rotary Club, with which he 1-22 holds a 52-year perfect attendance record; and 1-23 WHEREAS, He was an integral part of the CLEAN Greenville 1-24 organization when that group received the Governor's Award for Keep 2-1 Texas Beautiful, and he has been instrumental in the preservation 2-2 and continuity of the American Cotton Museum in Greenville, which 2-3 is dedicated to preserving the history and importance of cotton 2-4 production and manufacturing in the United States; and 2-5 WHEREAS, In 1998, Mr. Mathews was recognized as the state's 2-6 top Lone Star Land Steward in a Texas Parks and Wildlife program 2-7 that honors private landowners for their accomplishments in habitat 2-8 management and wildlife conservation; and 2-9 WHEREAS, "Mathews Prairie" is 100 acres of true native 2-10 Blackland Prairie that has never been "broken out," and offers 2-11 visitors today and for generations yet to come a glimpse of the 2-12 Texas tallgrass prairies that once reached from the Gulf of Mexico 2-13 into Canada; and 2-14 WHEREAS, Though his beloved wife of many years, Carrie Beth 2-15 Dowell Mathews, passed away in 1991, Mr. Mathews has three beloved 2-16 granddaughters and five great-grandchildren who keep him young and 2-17 cause him to look with joy on the years ahead; and 2-18 WHEREAS, This remarkable gentleman's commitment and loyalty 2-19 to his community and to his state are resolute; in light of his 2-20 celebrated accomplishments and the amazing legacy he has crafted 2-21 through hard work and real concern for the future, it is indeed 2-22 appropriate to recognize him at this time; now, therefore, be it 2-23 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-24 Legislature hereby honor Paul Mathews and extend to him warm best 2-25 wishes for great happiness and success in all his endeavors; and, 2-26 be it further 2-27 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-1 prepared for Mr. Mathews as an expression of high regard by the 3-2 Texas House of Representatives.