By Hunter H.R. No. 285 77R3798 JKB-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The passing of Myrle Greathouse of Abilene on 1-2 December 29, 2000, at the age of 78, has brought a great loss to 1-3 the family and many friends of this esteemed gentleman; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Mr. Greathouse was born in Amarillo on September 19, 1-5 1922, and graduated from Amarillo High School, where he played 1-6 linebacker and fullback on the 1940 state championship football 1-7 team; a dedicated athlete and scholar, he graduated from Oklahoma 1-8 University in 1949, lettering in football every year, and was later 1-9 inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame in Waco; 1-10 and 1-11 WHEREAS, In 1943, this distinguished gentleman joined the 1-12 United States Marine Corps and, during his tenure of military 1-13 service, earned the prestigious Purple Heart; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Beginning a career that would span more than four 1-15 decades, Mr. Greathouse moved to Abilene in 1954 and assumed a post 1-16 with WES-TEX Drilling; his tremendous leadership ability enabled 1-17 him to ascend through the ranks of the company, which included 1-18 being named executive vice president in 1956 and then president in 1-19 1979; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Renowned throughout the community for his 1-21 compassionate nature, he gave generously of his time and talents to 1-22 a host of community organizations, including the West Texas 1-23 Rehabilitation Center and the Joint Venture for Crippled Children; 1-24 in addition, this native Texan served as a board member of First 2-1 National Bank of Abilene and Crockett County National Bank in Ozona 2-2 and San Angelo and as president of the Petroleum Club; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Throughout his noteworthy career, Mr. Greathouse 2-4 earned acclaim as both a community and industry leader; he and 2-5 WES-TEX were awarded the Petroleum Industry Award in 1986, he was 2-6 named Oilman of the Year in 1988 by the West Central Texas Oil & 2-7 Gas Association, he received the Golden Deeds Award, and he was 2-8 honored as Abilene's Outstanding Philanthropist by the National 2-9 Society of Fund-Raising Executives; a man to whom giving was a 2-10 lifelong commitment, he established the Greathouse Foundation in 2-11 1997, which since its founding has distributed over two million 2-12 dollars to local charities; and 2-13 WHEREAS, A devoted husband to his wife, Marcella, and father 2-14 of three, Mr. Greathouse was a loyal member of Brook Hollow 2-15 Christian Church; he was a man of immense ability and integrity, 2-16 and although he will be greatly missed, his spirit will live on in 2-17 the hearts and minds of the many people whose lives he touched; 2-18 now, therefore, be it 2-19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-20 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Myrle Greathouse and 2-21 extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, 2-22 Marcella; to his son, Micah; to his daughter and her husband, 2-23 Sharon and Mike McDonald; to his sisters, Nettie Campbell and Betty 2-24 McKinney; to his grandchildren, Kelly Taylor and Christopher 2-25 McDonald; to his great-grandchildren, Brennen and MacKenzie Taylor; 2-26 and to his many other relatives and friends; and, be it further 2-27 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-1 prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of 3-2 Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Myrle 3-3 Greathouse.