By Uher H.R. No. 102 77R4199 MW-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The family and friends of Robert Jay "Bob" Wilkinson 1-2 of Bay City were deeply saddened by the passing of this esteemed 1-3 Texan on September 22, 2000, at the age of 84; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Born in Collegeport on September 9, 1916, 1-5 Mr. Wilkinson was salutatorian for his 1934 graduating class at Bay 1-6 City High School; he received a journalism degree from The 1-7 University of Texas at Austin, where he played for the Longhorn 1-8 Band and belonged to Sigma Delta Chi, a national honorary and 1-9 professional journalism fraternity; he also worked for The Daily 1-10 Texan and wrote the first story about illuminating the UT tower 1-11 orange following a football victory; and 1-12 WHEREAS, In 1938 Mr. Wilkinson began his career in journalism 1-13 as a sports editor and news reporter for the Daily Tribune in Bay 1-14 City; on January 1, 1940, he became editor of The Herald, a weekly 1-15 Bay City newspaper; and 1-16 WHEREAS, He joined the United States Navy in 1943; 1-17 maintaining ties to journalism, he edited the naval base newspaper 1-18 The Beam while stationed at Corpus Christi Naval Training Center 1-19 and then served aboard the U.S.S. Lind with the third and fifth 1-20 fleets in the Pacific Theater; and 1-21 WHEREAS, On September 2, 1945, Mr. Wilkinson had the unique 1-22 honor of witnessing the Japanese surrender ceremony on the U.S.S. 1-23 Missouri; afterward he participated in the occupation force in 1-24 Japanese waters before being honorably discharged in February 1946; 2-1 and 2-2 WHEREAS, In June 1946, Mr. Wilkinson published the first 2-3 issue of the Bay City News; after 11 years he sold the paper to 2-4 devote himself solely to the oil business with his father at The 2-5 Business of W. W. Wilkinson and Sons; in 1968, Mr. Wilkinson became 2-6 an independent oil operator, and in 1977 he was joined in business 2-7 by his son, Robert J. "Bobby" Wilkinson; and 2-8 WHEREAS, Mr. Wilkinson was an accomplished musician who 2-9 enjoyed playing in local dance orchestras and the Bay City 2-10 Municipal Band, and he was an active participant in civic matters; 2-11 a congregant of the First Presbyterian Church, he was a founding 2-12 member of the Bay City Country Club and Matagorda Co. Texas Exes, 2-13 the Petroleum Club of Houston, and many other organizations; and 2-14 WHEREAS, This prosperous businessman and diversely talented 2-15 Texan accumulated a host of rich experiences, succeeded in numerous 2-16 endeavors, and contributed much to his family, community, and the 2-17 Lone Star State; Mr. Wilkinson will be greatly missed but fondly 2-18 remembered, and his spirit will undoubtedly live on in the hearts 2-19 of those people he so deeply affected; now, therefore, be it 2-20 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-21 Legislature hereby honor the memory of Robert Jay Wilkinson and 2-22 extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, 2-23 Luceile Wilkinson; to his son, Bobby Wilkinson, and his wife, 2-24 Peggy; to his daughter, Martha Lake, and her husband, Clayton; to 2-25 his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and to his many other 2-26 relatives and friends; and, be it further 2-27 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-1 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas 3-2 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of 3-3 Robert Jay Wilkinson.