By Gallego                                              H.R. No. 79
         77R3206 MDM-D                           
                                 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.