1-1                                     1
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 744
 1-3                                  In Memory
 1-4                                     of
 1-5                         The Honorable Ottis E. Lock
 1-6           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the citizens
 1-7     of East Texas and the entire State of Texas in celebrating the life
 1-8     of former State Senator and State Representative Ottis E. Lock of
 1-9     Lufkin, who died August 15, 1998; and
1-10           WHEREAS, Born on July 28, 1910, on a small farm in
1-11     Angelina County, he attended public schools at nearby Zavalla,
1-12     graduated from high school at Rusk Academy, and worked his way
1-13     through college at Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College, where
1-14     he received a teacher's certificate and a bachelor of science degree
1-15     in history and education; and
1-16           WHEREAS, While simultaneously serving as a teacher, basketball
1-17     coach, band director, principal, superintendent, and bus driver in
1-18     the Laneville public schools, he educated himself in the law through
1-19     independent study and summer courses at The University of Texas
1-20     School of Law and became a licensed attorney by passing the State
1-21     Bar exam; and
1-22           WHEREAS, Elected to the House of Representatives in 1938, he
1-23     served his constituents for 10 years in the House before moving on
1-24     to represent his East Texas district for 10 years in the Senate,
 2-1     where he served on 15 different committees, and as chair of the
 2-2     Senate Committee on Nominations and the Senate Committee on Finance;
 2-3     and
 2-4           WHEREAS, During World War II, although exempt from military
 2-5     service as a member of the legislature, he enlisted as a buck
 2-6     private in the United States Army and went on to serve his country
 2-7     as a second lieutenant in Army counter-intelligence while continuing
 2-8     his service in the House, having won reelection while on active
 2-9     duty; and
2-10           WHEREAS, Throughout his 20 years as a member of the
2-11     Texas Legislature, Senator Lock was noted for his behind-the-scenes
2-12     leadership, his strong advocacy of public education, and his desire
2-13     to make state government more effective and economical; and
2-14           WHEREAS, As a champion of educational opportunity for all, he
2-15     personally drafted the three bills that formed the cornerstones of
2-16     the Gilmer-Aikin bills and was the author of the bill establishing
2-17     the Foundation School Program; he also authored the bill creating
2-18     the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; and
2-19           WHEREAS, At the end of his 20 years in the legislature,
2-20     veteran legislators and school officials said there had not been
2-21     a piece of legislation passed on behalf of the schools in the past
2-22     two decades that Ottis Lock had not either written or helped write;
2-23     and
2-24           WHEREAS, A highly acclaimed statesman and public servant,
2-25     he declined the urging of many to seek the office of governor
2-26     or lieutenant governor, and instead, set forth in 1959 to devote
 3-1     more time to his growing family and to a 15-year career in Lufkin
 3-2     with Southland Paper Mills, a company that rose to international
 3-3     prominence as a manufacturer of newsprint; and
 3-4           WHEREAS, After completion of his tenure in the
 3-5     Texas Legislature, he continued his civic activities through
 3-6     many organizations; he served as president of the Lufkin school
 3-7     board, as a member of the State Senior Colleges Board of Regents
 3-8     (the forerunner of today's Texas State University System), as a
 3-9     member and chairman of the Texas Public Safety Commission, and as
3-10     president of the Lufkin Youth Baseball Association; and
3-11           WHEREAS, Senator Lock was quick to give others the credit and
3-12     slow to accept tribute for his accomplishments, and his willingness
3-13     to accept awards and honors, such as being named a distinguished
3-14     alumnus of Stephen F. Austin State University in 1968, was the
3-15     exception rather than the rule; and
3-16           WHEREAS, He enjoyed the greatest respect of his colleagues
3-17     in his many areas of public service; his legacy of unflagging
3-18     support for educational opportunities and service to others will
3-19     have a lasting impact on this state; those who were privileged to
3-20     share his friendship will long miss his advice and counsel; now,
3-21     therefore, be it
3-22           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
3-23     76th Legislature, hereby pay homage to the lifetime of selfless
3-24     service of Senator Ottis E. Lock and extend sincere condolences
3-25     to the members of his family:  his wife of 52 years,
3-26     Viola Williamson Lock; his sons, Jim R. Lock, Ben W. Lock, and
 4-1     Joe A. Lock; his sister, Margie Lock Hartson; his daughters-in-law,
 4-2     Marsha Lock and Robin Lock; and his granddaughters, Cate and
 4-3     Alison Lock; and, be it further
 4-4           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the
 4-5     members of his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the
 4-6     Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so
 4-7     in memory of the Honorable Ottis E. Lock.
 4-8                                                    Truan
 4-9           Armbrister           Gallegos            Nixon
4-10           Barrientos           Harris              Ogden
4-11           Bernsen              Haywood             Ratliff
4-12           Bivins               Jackson             Shapiro
4-13           Brown                Lindsay             Shapleigh
4-14           Cain                 Lucio               Sibley
4-15           Carona               Luna                Wentworth
4-16           Duncan               Madla               West
4-17           Ellis                Moncrief            Whitmire
4-18           Fraser               Nelson              Zaffirini
4-19                       Perry, President of the Senate
4-20                                  ______________________________________
4-21                                          President of the Senate
4-22                                       I hereby certify that the above
4-23                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
4-24                                  on April 26, 1999, by a rising vote.
4-25                                  ______________________________________
4-26                                          Secretary of the Senate
4-27                                  ______________________________________
4-28                                            Dean of the Senate