R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The family and many friends of Elvie Fulcher
 1-2     Williams were greatly saddened by her passing on September 28,
 1-3     1997, at the age of 99, and we join them in mourning their loss;
 1-4     and
 1-5           WHEREAS, A native Texan, Mrs. Williams was born August 7,
 1-6     1898, in Ballinger, and by the 1920s had moved to the Big Bend area
 1-7     with her family; and
 1-8           WHEREAS, She was one of the first students to attend what is
 1-9     now Sul Ross State University, earning her bachelor's degree there
1-10     while teaching in Alpine and San Elizario; and
1-11           WHEREAS, In 1936, she married Virgil Williams, and the couple
1-12     enjoyed a relationship that continued to grow in mutual admiration,
1-13     affection, and respect until his death; and
1-14           WHEREAS, Mrs. Williams entered the Women's Army Corps in
1-15     1943, and after attending Officer Candidate School she received her
1-16     commission as a second lieutenant and served as civilian personnel
1-17     officer at Kelly Field in San Antonio, rising to the rank of first
1-18     lieutenant by the end of her military career; and
1-19           WHEREAS, On her return to Alpine, she operated her own
1-20     bookkeeping service and also worked as an accountant and purchasing
1-21     agent at her alma mater; and
1-22           WHEREAS, A vital and valued member of the community, she lent
1-23     her time and talents to a number of worthwhile endeavors, serving
1-24     as a board member for Sunshine House, the Chihuahuan Desert
 2-1     Research Institute, the Brewster County Historical Society, and the
 2-2     Alpine Housing Authority, which she also chaired; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, In 1975, she chaired the bicentennial committee's
 2-4     Heritage Program, and the following year she became the first woman
 2-5     president of the Alpine Chamber of Commerce and was named Citizen
 2-6     of the Year; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, The high esteem in which she was held by her friends
 2-8     and neighbors was made evident on her 95th birthday, which was
 2-9     celebrated in Alpine as "Elvie Williams Day"; and
2-10           WHEREAS, During her lifetime, Elvie Williams distinguished
2-11     herself as a truly noteworthy Texan, and although she is missed,
2-12     her spirit lives on today in the hearts of all those fortunate
2-13     enough to have known her; now, therefore, be it
2-14           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-15     Legislature hereby honor the memory of Elvie Fulcher Williams and
2-16     extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her
2-17     sisters-in-law, Evelyn Fulcher and Nancy Fulcher; to her nieces and
2-18     nephews, and to her other family members and many friends; and, be
2-19     it further
2-20           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-21     prepared for the members of her family and that when the Texas
2-22     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
2-23     Elvie Fulcher Williams.
                                                                     Gallego
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 541 was unanimously adopted by a
         rising vote of the House on April 23, 1999.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House