By Bailey                                             H.R. No. 1044
         76R15422 BE-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of Leon "Pappy" Selph on January 8,
 1-2     1999, at the age of 84, has brought a great loss to the family,
 1-3     friends, and countless fans of this legendary Texas fiddler; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Mr. Selph was born in Houston and began studying
 1-5     violin at the Columbia Conservatory when he was seven years old; as
 1-6     a young man he became a member of the prestigious Houston Youth
 1-7     Symphony, and by 1931 he had joined the Light Crust Doughboys,
 1-8     which included Bob Wills and was managed by future Texas governor
 1-9     W. Lee O'Daniel; and
1-10           WHEREAS, After Wills left to form his own band, Mr. Selph
1-11     joined him as one of the Texas Playboys, and his lively and
1-12     inventive fiddle playing became a defining element of "string
1-13     swing"; and
1-14           WHEREAS, He started his own band in 1933, the Blue Ridge
1-15     Playboys, and again the driving force behind the music was
1-16     Mr. Selph's fiddle, backed by some of the most talented musicians
1-17     of the era, including Floyd Tillman, Moon Mullican, and Ted Daffan;
1-18     and
1-19           WHEREAS,  With a nationally syndicated show originating from
1-20     Houston radio station KPRC, the band gained fame for such popular
1-21     hits as "It Makes No Difference Now," "Texas Take-Off," and
1-22     "Polecat Stomp," but World War II interrupted their success and
1-23     Mr. Selph joined the Navy; and
1-24           WHEREAS, After the war, Mr. Selph returned to his hometown
 2-1     and  joined the Houston Fire Department, but he continued to play
 2-2     and teach music locally; inducted into the Texas Western Swing Hall
 2-3     of Fame in 1996, Mr. Selph continued to play his fiddle and
 2-4     regularly played shows in Houston and across Texas; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, Though his warmth and humor will be deeply missed,
 2-6     the reverberating twang and pure Texas joy of "Pappy" Selph's music
 2-7     will resound forever for family and fans alike, and it is justly
 2-8     fitting to honor his memory at this time; now, therefore, be it
 2-9           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-10     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life and music of Leon
2-11     "Pappy" Selph and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his
2-12     family: to his beloved wife, Inez; to his children, Mary Foreman,
2-13     Pamela Polson, and Bill Selph; to his 10 grandchildren and 12
2-14     great-grandchildren; and to the many other relatives and friends of
2-15     this esteemed Texan; and, be it further
2-16           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-17     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
2-18     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
2-19     Leon "Pappy" Selph.