By Wohlgemuth H.R. No. 924
Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The passing of O. C. Forrest, Jr., on May 21, 1997,
1-2 at the age of 68, brought a great loss to the family and many
1-3 friends of this esteemed resident of Cleburne; and
1-4 WHEREAS, Born on September 14, 1928, in Strawn, this native
1-5 Texan married the former Martha Jean Clarke on October 3, 1947, in
1-6 Cleburne; the couple were blessed with two sons and through the
1-7 years, Mr. Forrest welcomed a daughter-in-law and two grandsons
1-8 into his beloved family; and
1-9 WHEREAS, The founder and co-owner of the Forrest
1-10 Chevrolet-Oldsmobile-Cadillac and Forrest Pontiac-Buick-GMC
1-11 dealerships in Cleburne, Mr. Forrest had a successful career in
1-12 automotive sales that began in 1949 with Steakley Motors of
1-13 Cleburne, where he earned promotions to sales manager and general
1-14 manager before purchasing the business in 1964; in addition to his
1-15 automobile enterprises, Mr. Forrest's business ventures included
1-16 raising Hereford cattle on ranches in the Rio Vista area; and
1-17 WHEREAS, His professional affiliations included membership in
1-18 the Fort Worth Business Bureau and the Chevrolet Motor Division's
1-19 Dallas Zone Planning and Community Relations Committee and service
1-20 as an Area Director and a State Director of the Texas Automobile
1-21 Dealers Association; he served as executive board chairman of
1-22 Cleburne Truck and Body Company and as a director of Cleburne
2-1 National Bank; and
2-2 WHEREAS, This outstanding citizen shared his time and energy
2-3 with many worthy civic organizations and his charitable efforts
2-4 were an inspiration to area citizens; he devoted himself to the
2-5 Cleburne Chamber of Commerce, Cleburne Kiwanis Club, United Way of
2-6 Johnson County, Johnson County Red Cross, Cleburne Industrial
2-7 Foundation, and Cleburne Economic Development Foundation; and
2-8 WHEREAS, Mr. Forrest was a long-standing member of the
2-9 Southwestern Adventist College Advisory Council and First Baptist
2-10 Church of Cleburne, and he supported the Longhorn Council of the
2-11 Boy Scouts of America, The Green Thumbs Garden Club, and the Build
2-12 Cleburne Campaign sponsored by the Cleburne Downtown Merchants
2-13 Association; he was also a member of the Cleburne Christian
2-14 Businessman's Club, Tuesday Forum, and the Petroleum Club of Fort
2-15 Worth; and
2-16 WHEREAS, Among his many well-deserved honors, Mr. Forrest
2-17 received the 1982 Outstanding Businessman's Award from the Cleburne
2-18 Chamber of Commerce, and he was recognized by the NAACP in 1990 for
2-19 his outstanding commitment to Johnson and Hill counties; and
2-20 WHEREAS, Those who were privileged to share the friendship of
2-21 O. C. Forrest, Jr., will long miss his presence, and he will surely
2-22 be remembered with great affection and admiration for many years to
2-23 come; now, therefore, be it
2-24 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-25 Legislature hereby honor the memory of O. C. Forrest, Jr., and
2-26 extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family; to his wife,
3-1 Martha; to his sons, William Clinton Forrest and Charles Michael
3-2 Forrest; to his grandsons, Christian Forrest and Michael Murray
3-3 Forrest; to his daughter-in-law, Karen Forrest; and to the many
3-4 other friends and relatives of this esteemed gentleman; and, be it
3-5 further
3-6 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-7 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
3-8 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
3-9 O. C. Forrest, Jr.