R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of John Woods Harris of Galveston, on
 1-2     February 22, 1999, at the age of 105, has brought a great loss to
 1-3     the family and many friends of this esteemed gentleman and to the
 1-4     Galveston community of which he was such an integral part; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, A lifelong resident of the island city, Mr. Harris
 1-6     was born there on September 23, 1893, and was among the last of the
 1-7     survivors of the terrible hurricane of 1900 in which more than
 1-8     7,000 Texans perished; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, From the horse-and-buggy days of his youth to the
1-10     space age, Mr. Harris witnessed many remarkable advancements
1-11     throughout his long life; he was a pilot and instructor at the
1-12     Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, during World War I, and he
1-13     later joined the Early and Pioneer Aviators Association (the Golden
1-14     Eagles) and, until his death, was the oldest military pilot in the
1-15     country; and
1-16           WHEREAS, A 1920 law school graduate of the University of
1-17     Virginia, Mr. Harris returned to Galveston to manage his family's
1-18     oil, farm, and ranch properties and he soon began a prominent
1-19     career in banking; his 1974 retirement as chairman of the board of
1-20     First Hutchings-Sealy National Bank of Galveston brought to a close
1-21     more than 40 years of distinguished leadership; and
1-22           WHEREAS, Mr. Harris was a man of committed civic action as
1-23     well, and numerous organizations benefited from his counsel and
1-24     energy; he served as director and vice president of the Sealy and
 2-1     Smith Foundation for John Sealy Hospital, trustee and president of
 2-2     the Rosenberg Library,  member of the board and president of the
 2-3     Galveston Orphans' Home, and as a trustee with the Galveston
 2-4     Independent School District; and
 2-5           WHEREAS,  Many charitable associations also profited from
 2-6     this dynamic and giving individual; groups as varied as the
 2-7     Galveston Garden Club, the Salvation Army, Boy Scouts of America,
 2-8     and the Galveston Historical Foundation were advanced by the
 2-9     generosity  of Mr. Harris; and
2-10           WHEREAS, Of particular importance to this remarkable
2-11     benefactor was the Galveston Foundation, Inc., established by
2-12     Mr. Harris and his beloved wife, the late Eugenia Harris, in 1973;
2-13     the Galveston Foundation is dedicated to making the city the
2-14     "Garden of the Gulf" through plantings and landscape improvements,
2-15     and it continues to accomplish great things in behalf of Galveston
2-16     residents; and
2-17           WHEREAS, Mr. Harris was widely hailed for his public-spirited
2-18     efforts, and among the many honors he received were recognition as
2-19     a Community Leader of America, Galveston's Boys' Club Man of the
2-20     Year, and the Rabbi Henry Cohen Humanitarian of the Year;  he also
2-21     took pride in his membership in the American Judicature Society,
2-22     Sons of the Republic of Texas, the Texas Navy, and the American
2-23     Legion; and
2-24           WHEREAS, The presence of this renowned Galveston businessman,
2-25     family man, and philanthropist will be deeply missed, but his
2-26     spirit lives on through a legacy of community work that has touched
2-27     the lives of countless Texans, and it is indeed fitting to honor
 3-1     his memory at this time; 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 John Woods Harris and
 3-4     extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his
 3-5     daughters, Eugenia Campbell and Joan Kelso; to his 14 grandchildren
 3-6     and 19 great-grandchildren; and to his many other friends and
 3-7     relatives; and, be it further
 3-8           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
 3-9     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
3-10     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
3-11     John Woods Harris.
                                                                        Gray
                                                                      Eiland
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 896 was unanimously adopted by a
         rising vote of the House on May 22, 1999.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House