By Ellis                                               H.R. No. 908
         76R14905 MDM-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of Mance E. Park on May 7, 1998, at the
 1-2     age of 82,  brought a great loss to the family and friends of this
 1-3     beloved gentleman, and, following the first anniversary of his
 1-4     death, it is appropriate that we pay tribute to his life; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Born on December 25, 1915, in the Sion community in
 1-6     Walker County, Mr. Park moved to Madisonville with his family as a
 1-7     child and graduated from Madisonville High School; he earned an
 1-8     athletic scholarship to Lon Morris Junior College and continued his
 1-9     education at Sam Houston State University also on an athletic
1-10     scholarship, and he was awarded bachelor's and master's degrees
1-11     from that institution; and
1-12           WHEREAS, Mr. Park began his coaching career at A&M
1-13     Consolidated and in Grapeland before joining the military; he
1-14     served his country with distinction during World War II as a member
1-15     of the United States Navy; and
1-16           WHEREAS, In 1947 Mr. Park accepted employment with the
1-17     Houston Independent School District as a teacher and coach and led
1-18     his teams to the state playoffs in 1951, 1952, and 1953, the year
1-19     they earned the state championship in Class 3-A football; in 1955
1-20     he joined the faculty at Sam Houston State University as line coach
1-21     and assistant professor of history and that year the Bearkat
1-22     football team tied for Lone Star Conference, and in 1956 they won
1-23     the Lone Star Conference as well as the Refrigerator Bowl; this
1-24     outstanding coach's career record is 122 wins, 11 losses, and 2
 2-1     ties; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, He was named superintendent of Huntsville schools in
 2-3     1957 and served in that position for 22 years; during his tenure
 2-4     Mr. Park was instrumental in the consolidation of the county's
 2-5     school districts with the Huntsville ISD as well as the
 2-6     construction of several new elementary schools and a new high
 2-7     school; at his retirement, Mance Park Junior High was renamed and
 2-8     dedicated in his honor; and
 2-9           WHEREAS, His interests also included banking, ranching, and
2-10     real estate, and he served as a director at First National Bank,
2-11     Huntsville for two decades and as a director of the East Texas
2-12     Brangus Breeders Association for 10 years; as a realtor, he was
2-13     involved in several subdivision development projects; and
2-14           WHEREAS, Mr. Park assumed leadership roles with the
2-15     Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce and the Huntsville
2-16     Rotary Club, both of which he served as president, as well as being
2-17     a member of the chamber's "think tank"; he served the congregation
2-18     of First United Methodist Church as a member of the administrative
2-19     board and board of trustees and he taught Sunday school; and
2-20           WHEREAS, He was accorded many well-deserved honors for his
2-21     charitable efforts; he was a recipient of a life membership in the
2-22     Huntsville PTA as well as the DAR Honor Medal and was named a Sam
2-23     Houston State University Distinguished Alumnus, an Honorary State
2-24     Farmer, and a Paul Harris Rotarian; a Rotary Athletic Scholarship
2-25     was named in his honor, he was recognized by the Sam Houston State
2-26     University Ex-Letterman Association for his dedication and service
2-27     to athletics, and the Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce
 3-1     named its Lifetime Achievement Award for him; and
 3-2           WHEREAS, Those who were privileged to share the friendship of
 3-3     Mance E. Park deeply miss his presence, and he will surely be
 3-4     remembered with great affection and admiration for many years to
 3-5     come; now, therefore, be it
 3-6           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
 3-7     Legislature hereby honor the memory of Mance E. Park and extend
 3-8     sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, Mary
 3-9     Frances Park; to his son and daughter-in-law, Mance Michael and
3-10     Carol Park; to his grandsons, Mance Allen Park and Paul Michael
3-11     Park; and to the many other friends and relatives of this fine man;
3-12     and, be it further
3-13           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-14     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
3-15     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
3-16     Mance E. Park.