By Telford H.C.R. No. 121 77R5853 MW-D 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.