1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 563 1-3 WHEREAS, R. C. Taylor will mark a momentous occasion on 1-4 April 22-24, 1999, when he joins with his employees and customers 1-5 in celebrating the 50th anniversary of R. C. Taylor Wholesale, 1-6 Incorporated, in Lubbock; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Founded by Mr. Taylor on March 28, 1949, as 1-8 the R. C. Taylor Wholesale Tobacco Company, this successful 1-9 enterprise began with three employees, one delivery truck, and 1-10 a 2,400-square-foot building to house merchandise consisting of 1-11 tobacco, candy, school supplies, and concessions; and 1-12 WHEREAS, In 1997, the business moved into a 52,000-square-foot 1-13 warehouse with a diverse inventory that has expanded to include 1-14 general merchandise, and by last year, the company had 56 employees 1-15 who met customers' needs in the entire Northwest Texas area, with 1-16 annual sales of an estimated $34 million; and 1-17 WHEREAS, R. C. Taylor's son, Robert, now manages the family 1-18 business, in which he has been actively involved since 1971, and he 1-19 currently serves as president of the Texas Association of Wholesale 1-20 Distributors, a post the elder Mr. Taylor held in 1967 and 1968; and 1-21 WHEREAS, Before establishing the highly successful business 1-22 based in Lubbock, R. C. Taylor owned a grocery store in Childress, 1-23 where he moved in 1945 after serving with the United States Army 1-24 Medical Corps; and 2-1 WHEREAS, An esteemed civic leader, Mr. Taylor is a member of 2-2 the Masonic Lodge and has committed his time to the United Way, 2-3 Open Heart Club, which he led as president, Lubbock Health Facility 2-4 Development Corporation, and Lubbock Center Corporation, which 2-5 assists in the development of the city's downtown area; he received 2-6 the Texas Association of Wholesale Distributors' Citizenship Award 2-7 in 1991 and was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Downtown Rotary 2-8 Club, which he guided as president; and 2-9 WHEREAS, For 50 years, R. C. Taylor Wholesale, Incorporated, 2-10 has served the Lubbock community, and the Taylor family's 2-11 uncompromising dedication to professional service, quality 2-12 merchandise, and fair business practices is truly deserving of 2-13 special praise and recognition at this time; now, therefore, be it 2-14 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-15 76th Legislature, hereby commend R. C. Taylor and his family 2-16 and employees on the 50th anniversary of R. C. Taylor Wholesale, 2-17 Incorporated, and extend to them warmest best wishes for continued 2-18 success; and, be it further 2-19 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared 2-20 for R. C. Taylor as an expression of high regard by the Texas Senate. 2-21 Duncan 2-22 ______________________________________ 2-23 President of the Senate 2-24 I hereby certify that the above 2-25 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 2-26 on April 7, 1999. 2-27 ______________________________________ 2-28 Secretary of the Senate 2-29 ______________________________________ 2-30 Member, Texas Senate