By Allen H.C.R. No. 126 77R5649 MJS-D HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, Vernon and Ruthe Jackson of Grand Prairie are most 1-2 deserving of special praise for their exemplary service to their 1-3 community and contributions to the State of Texas; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Married on September 10, 1944, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson 1-5 have donated their time and considerable talents to various 1-6 professional, civic, and philanthropic organizations, and their 1-7 efforts in behalf of numerous school and youth organizations are 1-8 especially noteworthy; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Born in Fairy in 1921, Mr. Jackson moved to Dallas 1-10 County in 1941 and eventually co-owned Jackson Vending Supply, 1-11 Inc., with his wife; although the couple sold their business in 1-12 1998, this esteemed gentleman remains active in the company as a 1-13 consultant; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Currently a member of such worthy organizations as 1-15 the Friday Rotary Club and Post-School PTA, Mr. Jackson formerly 1-16 served as a board member and president of the Grand Prairie 1-17 Independent School District, chairman of the Grand Prairie Urban 1-18 Renewal-Community Renewal Commission, and as a board member of 1-19 Christian College of the Southwest, now Amber University; and 1-20 WHEREAS, A recipient of the Grand Prairie Bar Association's 1-21 Liberty Bell Outstanding Citizen Award in 1994 and a Paul Harris 1-22 Fellow, Mr. Jackson is a lifetime member of the Grand Prairie 1-23 Historical Organization and an honorary life member of the Texas 1-24 PTA; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Born in Fort Worth, Mrs. Jackson also has a long and 2-2 distinguished record of community service and has been accorded 2-3 numerous accolades and distinctions, including being the first 2-4 woman in Texas to receive the prestigious "Lady Bird Johnson" 2-5 Award; in addition, she has held many important positions, 2-6 including serving as mayor pro tempore of the Grand Prairie City 2-7 Council, as the first woman president of the Grand Prairie Chamber 2-8 of Commerce, founding president of the Grand Prairie Historical 2-9 Organization, and state president of Keep Texas Beautiful, Inc.; 2-10 and 2-11 WHEREAS, This admirable woman is a registered professional 2-12 parliamentarian and a member of the National Association of 2-13 Parliamentarians; she is also a member of the Grand Prairie Arts 2-14 Council, Grand Prairie Woman's Club, Grand Prairie Crime 2-15 Commission, Grand Prairie Quality of Life Foundation, and many 2-16 other estimable organizations; and 2-17 WHEREAS, With a number of awards named in her honor, she is a 2-18 hero and honorary member of Future Homemakers of America, an 2-19 honorary member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic School, and 2-20 an honorary commander of the Dallas Naval Air Station in Dallas and 2-21 was presented with the next-to-last U.S. flag flown at the station 2-22 in 1998; and 2-23 WHEREAS, Fittingly, the City of Grand Prairie has renamed an 2-24 outdoor learning center in the couple's honor; furthermore, the 2-25 House of Representatives of the 72nd Texas Legislature lauded their 2-26 noble and ongoing community-oriented efforts by recognizing March 2-27 5, 1991, as Vernon and Ruthe Jackson Day at the State Capitol; and 3-1 WHEREAS, These pillars of the community have made yet another 3-2 decade of immeasurable contributions in behalf of their fellow 3-3 Texans, and the Lone Star State has reaped the benefits of their 3-4 hard work, vision, and initiative; and 3-5 WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson's voluminous good works and 3-6 deeds are a direct reflection of their commitment and devotion to 3-7 making Grand Prairie and Dallas County a better and more beautiful 3-8 place for everyone, and it is truly a privilege to pay tribute to 3-9 these outstanding Texans at this time; now, therefore, be it 3-10 RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas 3-11 hereby commend Vernon and Ruthe Jackson of Grand Prairie for their 3-12 outstanding community service and extend to them sincere best 3-13 wishes for good fortune and happiness in their future endeavors; 3-14 and, be it further 3-15 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-16 prepared for Mr. and Mrs. Jackson as an expression of high regard 3-17 by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.