R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The passing of Dr. Arvel R. Ponton, Jr., of Alpine, 1-2 on January 23, 2000, at the age of 80, has brought a great loss to 1-3 the family and many friends of this esteemed physician; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Born on September 20, 1919, in Lubbock, he moved 1-5 with his family as a young child to Fort Worth; in the ensuing 1-6 years Dr. Ponton attended Culver Military Academy in Indiana, The 1-7 University of Texas at Austin, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma 1-8 fraternity, and The University of Texas Medical School in 1-9 Galveston, which awarded him his medical degree in 1943; and 1-10 WHEREAS, Dr. Ponton valiantly served his country during World 1-11 War II as a physician in the China-Burma-India (CBI) theater and 1-12 earned the rank of captain; after the war he returned to Texas and 1-13 opened a medical and surgical practice in Seminole; and 1-14 WHEREAS, He married the former Beryl Francis in 1948 and the 1-15 couple were the proud parents of five children; in 1958, after 1-16 making their home in Fort Worth for several years, the family moved 1-17 to Alpine, where Dr. Ponton established a private practice and 1-18 built the Ponton Clinic, which would serve as his professional base 1-19 until his retirement in 1995; during this period, he also responded 1-20 to a regional health care need by building nursing homes in Alpine 1-21 and Del Rio; and 1-22 WHEREAS, Throughout his professional career, Dr. Ponton 1-23 demonstrated his genuine concern for the people of West Texas 1-24 through his willingness to make house calls, to assist his patients 2-1 with personal challenges as well as those requiring his medical 2-2 expertise, and to trade his professional services for goods; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Widely respected for his leadership and dedication 2-4 to the betterment of his community, Dr. Ponton was active in the 2-5 Presbyterian Church, the Texas Medical Association, the Texas 2-6 Academy of Family Practice, and the Veterans of the CBI Theater; 2-7 and 2-8 WHEREAS, Though Dr. Ponton will be deeply missed by all who 2-9 knew him, his memory will surely live on in the hearts and minds of 2-10 the many people whose lives he touched; now, therefore, be it 2-11 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-12 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. Arvel R. Ponton, 2-13 Jr., and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to 2-14 his wife, Elaine Ponton; to his children, Beryl Crowley, Rod 2-15 Ponton, Peggy Ponton, Jan Akers, and Jim Ponton; to his nine 2-16 grandchildren; and to the many other friends and relatives of this 2-17 fine man; and, be it further 2-18 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-19 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas 2-20 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of 2-21 Dr. Arvel R. Ponton, Jr. Gallego _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 79 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on May 25, 2001. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House