By Smithee                                            H.R. No. 1207
         76R13719 JBR-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The recent passing of Orvil Gene "Speedy" Nieman on
 1-2     April 19, 1999, at the age of 70, has brought a great loss to the
 1-3     family and many friends of this beloved gentleman; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, A Lamesa native, Mr. Nieman graduated from Lamesa
 1-5     High School before serving his country during the Korean War as a
 1-6     member of the U.S. Coast Guard; upon returning to civilian life he
 1-7     finished his education at Texas Tech University and married the
 1-8     former Lavon Stewart; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, Mr. Nieman's career as a journalist and publisher
1-10     spanned 46 years and began in his hometown, where he worked as
1-11     sports editor for the Lamesa Daily Reporter; he later worked as a
1-12     writer for the San Angelo Standard-Times and the Midland
1-13     Reporter-Telegram and was an editor at the Lamb County Leader and
1-14     Brownfield News, as well as a partner and publisher of the Slaton
1-15     Slatonite; and
1-16           WHEREAS, In 1972, this visionary gentleman moved to Hereford
1-17     to serve as publisher for the Hereford Brand and as president of
1-18     North Plains Printing, and his tenure lasted for 26 years; in
1-19     addition, he is a past president of the Texas Press Association,
1-20     the Panhandle Press Association, and the West Texas Press
1-21     Association and is a former director of the Texas Newspaper
1-22     Association; and
1-23           WHEREAS, Affectionately nicknamed "Speedy" by his high school
1-24     track coaches, Mr. Nieman was the recipient of a variety of awards
 2-1     for his valued contributions to society and the world of print
 2-2     media, and among those honors he received were Texas Tech
 2-3     University's Outstanding Alumnus Award, the Harold Hudson Memorial
 2-4     Newspaper Award, the Hereford Regional Medical Center's Outstanding
 2-5     Support Award, Hereford's 1989 Citizen of the Year Award, Slaton's
 2-6     Man of the Year in 1979, Hereford's Bull Chip Award, and the Texas
 2-7     Press Association's Golden 50 Award in 1998, and he was inducted
 2-8     into the Panhandle Press Association's Hall of Fame in 1996; and
 2-9           WHEREAS, The world of print media was not the only realm
2-10     touched by Mr. Nieman, as his presence was clearly felt in his
2-11     community as a member and deacon of the First Baptist Church of
2-12     Hereford, president of the Hereford Lions Club and Deaf Smith
2-13     Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the United Way, chairman of the
2-14     Hereford Hustlers, and as a founder of the Hereford Christmas
2-15     Stocking Fund; and
2-16           WHEREAS, Those who were privileged to share the love and
2-17     friendship of Orvil Gene "Speedy" Nieman will long miss his
2-18     presence, and though he is gone from this world, his spirit
2-19     continues to live on in our hearts and minds; now, therefore, be it
2-20           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-21     Legislature hereby honor the memory of Orvil Gene "Speedy" Nieman
2-22     and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family:  to his
2-23     wife, Lavon Nieman; to his sons, Craig Nieman and Steve Nieman; to
2-24     his two grandchildren; and to the many other relatives and friends
2-25     of this esteemed Hereford resident; and, be it further
2-26           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-27     prepared for the members of his family, and that when the Texas
 3-1     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
 3-2     Orvil Gene "Speedy" Nieman.