HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, The family and friends of William C. "Billy"
1-2 Wooldridge of Longview were deeply saddened by the passing of this
1-3 esteemed individual on November 30, 2000, at the age of 84; and
1-4 WHEREAS, Born on October 2, 1916, Mr. Wooldridge attended
1-5 public schools in Lamar County and Paris Junior College, where he
1-6 received an associate's degree in 1936; he then studied at East
1-7 Texas State University (ETSU) and earned both bachelor's and
1-8 master's degrees; and
1-9 WHEREAS, Answering his country's call to duty, he served as a
1-10 lieutenant in the United States armed services counterintelligence
1-11 during World War II; and
1-12 WHEREAS, Mr. Wooldridge had a distinguished career in public
1-13 education; he was a teacher and principal at Chicota High School,
1-14 county school superintendent of Lamar County, and superintendent of
1-15 schools in DeKalb; in 1973, he became superintendent of schools in
1-16 Hallsville, where he served until his retirement in 1988; and
1-17 WHEREAS, Proclaimed by Senator Ed Howard to be the "Dean of
1-18 East Texas Superintendents," Mr. Wooldridge worked with Senator A.
1-19 M. Aiken of Paris to devise the Texas School Act, which laid the
1-20 foundation for the public school system in Texas today; and
1-21 WHEREAS, He also served as a member of a number of worthy
1-22 organizations, including the Harrison County Central Appraisal
1-23 District, the UIL Music Executive Committee, and the Texas State
1-24 Teacher's Association (TSTA); in addition, he was active with Lions
2-1 International, DeKalb United Methodist Church, and Hallsville
2-2 United Methodist Church; and
2-3 WHEREAS, Mr. Wooldridge was president of the Ex-Students
2-4 Association at ETSU, was on the board of directors of Lake
2-5 Texarkana Water Supply, was director of the DeKalb Chapter of the
2-6 American Businesswomen's Association, and served on the TSTA State
2-7 Executive Committee and the DeKalb Industrial Foundation; and
2-8 WHEREAS, His efforts and contributions were duly recognized
2-9 with many accolades, including the 1987-1988 President's Award from
2-10 the Hallsville Chamber of Commerce, the Curriculum Leadership Award
2-11 for 1988, and the East Texas School Study Council Distinguished
2-12 Service Award in 1999; he also garnered the Regional Superintendent
2-13 of the Year Award of the Texas Association of School Boards in
2-14 1986, the TSTA District 8 Award of Honor in 1978, the community
2-15 service award from the John H. Moore American Legion Post in 1968,
2-16 and the Human Relations Award from TSTA District 8; and
2-17 WHEREAS, An educator of great stature whose influence deeply
2-18 affected so many young people in the Lone Star State,
2-19 Mr. Wooldridge was also a devoted civic leader and a loving husband
2-20 and father, and his spirit will undoubtedly live on in the hearts
2-21 of the many people he so deeply touched; now, therefore, be it
2-22 RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-23 hereby pay tribute to the life of William C. "Billy" Wooldridge and
2-24 extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife,
2-25 Stella Irene Parsons Wooldridge; to his daughter, Patricia Carmack
2-26 and her husband, Robert; to his daughter, Vicki Summers and her
2-27 husband, Don; to his son, William Charles "Charley" Wooldridge and
3-1 his wife, Kristin; to his grandchildren, David Summers, Melanie
3-2 Wooldridge, and Rob Wooldridge; and to all his other family and
3-3 friends; and, be it further
3-4 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-5 prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
3-6 Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory
3-7 of William C. Wooldridge.
Telford
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 121 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on February 28, 2001.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 121 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the Senate on May 27, 2001.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________________
Date
__________________________
Governor