By Krusee H.R. No. 725 76R7999 JBR-F R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is pleased to 1-2 join with the Taylor High School Ex-Students Association to honor 1-3 Miss Ruth Mantor, one of the most memorable teachers in the history 1-4 of Taylor High School; and 1-5 WHEREAS, A teacher of English and journalism at Taylor High 1-6 School until her retirement in 1971, Miss Mantor was the beloved 1-7 instructor of several generations of students who attended the high 1-8 school; and 1-9 WHEREAS, A member of a pioneering family that moved to Taylor 1-10 in 1900, Miss Mantor was born in the family home in 1907; her 1-11 parents were both well educated, and her father was an attorney 1-12 with a local law practice; she grew up in a family made lively by 1-13 the presence of six children; and 1-14 WHEREAS, When Ruth Mantor was 16, she graduated from Taylor 1-15 High School; she attended The University of Texas and earned her 1-16 bachelor of science degree in education in 1927, her master's 1-17 degree in education in 1938, and her master of arts degree in 1948; 1-18 and 1-19 WHEREAS, Miss Mantor began her teaching career in Texarkana, 1-20 but in 1936 she moved back home, where she taught, except for a 1-21 time in the 1940s, until she retired in 1971; and 1-22 WHEREAS, Upon her retirement, this distinguished lady had 1-23 spent 38 years in teaching, with 32 of those years in Taylor; she 1-24 had been chairman of the English department, and she continually 2-1 amazed her colleagues with her extensive knowledge and her 2-2 dedication; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Many honors have been conferred on Miss Mantor 2-4 throughout the years; in the 1968-1969 school year she was named 2-5 Teacher of the Year, and under her expert guidance the school 2-6 paper, the "Cotton Boll," frequently won awards; in 1986, the 2-7 Taylor Middle School National Junior Honor Society proclaimed Ruth 2-8 Mantor Day to raise funds for the Ruth Mantor Scholarship, which is 2-9 given annually to a senior from Taylor High School who wants to 2-10 teach; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Named Taylor's Citizen of the Year in May 1994, Miss 2-12 Mantor was inducted into the Taylor High School Ex-Students 2-13 Association Hall of Fame in October 1994 for her lifetime 2-14 achievements; and 2-15 WHEREAS, While teaching, she was a member of the Texas State 2-16 Teachers Association, the Texas Classroom Teachers Association, and 2-17 the National Education Association; and 2-18 WHEREAS, Well known as an exacting taskmaster, Miss Mantor 2-19 pressed her students to do their very best and would accept no less 2-20 from them; she taught them discipline and self-respect; and 2-21 WHEREAS, Still active in her community, Miss Mantor 2-22 researched and wrote "Our Town: Taylor"; a lifetime member of the 2-23 Johns Community Hospital Auxiliary, she has been a driving force on 2-24 the Taylor Library Board, has been active in the Williamson County 2-25 Historical Commission and the Taylor Heritage Society, and was 2-26 instrumental in organizing the Keep Taylor Beautiful Committee; 2-27 truly such a woman is a wonderful resource; now, therefore, be it 3-1 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 3-2 Legislature hereby declare Miss Ruth Mantor a Living Texas Treasure 3-3 and honor her for her countless contributions to the people of 3-4 Taylor and of Texas; and, be it further 3-5 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-6 prepared for Miss Mantor as an expression of high regard from the 3-7 Texas House of Representatives.