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