By Jones of Lubbock H.R. No. 435 76R8750 MDM-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, R. C. Taylor will mark a momentous occasion on 1-2 April 22-24, 1999, when he joins with his employees and customers 1-3 in celebrating the 50th anniversary of R. C. Taylor Wholesale, 1-4 Inc., in Lubbock; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Founded by Mr. Taylor on March 28, 1949, as the R. 1-6 C. Taylor Wholesale Tobacco Company, this successful enterprise 1-7 began with three employees, one delivery truck, and a 1-8 2,400-square-foot building to house merchandise consisting of 1-9 tobacco, candy, school supplies, and concessions; and 1-10 WHEREAS, In 1997, the business moved into a 1-11 52,000-square-foot warehouse with a diverse inventory that has 1-12 expanded to include general merchandise, and by last year, the 1-13 company had 56 employees who met customers' needs in the entire 1-14 Northwest Texas area, with annual sales of an estimated $34 1-15 million; and 1-16 WHEREAS, R. C. Taylor's son, Robert, now manages the family 1-17 business, in which he has been actively involved since 1971, and he 1-18 currently serves as president of the Texas Association of Wholesale 1-19 Distributors, a post the elder Mr. Taylor held in 1967 and 1968; 1-20 and 1-21 WHEREAS, Before establishing the highly successful business 1-22 based in Lubbock, R. C. Taylor owned a grocery store in Childress, 1-23 where he moved in 1945 after serving with the United States Army 1-24 Medical Corps; and 2-1 WHEREAS, An esteemed civic leader, Mr. Taylor is a member of 2-2 the Masonic Lodge and has committed his time to the United Way, 2-3 Open Heart Club, which he led as president, Lubbock Health Facility 2-4 Development Corporation, and Lubbock Center Corporation, which 2-5 assists in the development of the city's downtown area; he received 2-6 the Texas Association of Wholesale Distributors' Citizenship Award 2-7 in 1991 and was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Downtown Rotary 2-8 Club, which he guided as president; and 2-9 WHEREAS, For 50 years, R. C. Taylor Wholesale, Inc., has 2-10 served the Lubbock community, and the Taylor family's 2-11 uncompromising dedication to professional service, quality 2-12 merchandise, and fair business practices is truly deserving of 2-13 special praise and recognition at this time; now, therefore, be it 2-14 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-15 Legislature hereby commend R. C. Taylor and his family and 2-16 employees on the 50th anniversary of R. C. Taylor Wholesale, Inc., 2-17 and extend to them warmest best wishes for continued success; and, 2-18 be it further 2-19 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-20 prepared for R. C. Taylor as an expression of high regard by the 2-21 Texas House of Representatives.