By Cook                                                H.R. No. 700
         77R10980 MDM-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of Dr. Raymond R. Thomas of Eagle Lake
 1-2     on March 14, 2001, at the age of 74, brought a profound sense of
 1-3     loss to his family, patients, students, and friends; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Born on June 12, 1926, in Lissie, he served his
 1-5     country with distinction as an ensign in the United States Navy
 1-6     during World War II before starting college; he graduated from The
 1-7     University of Texas in Austin and The University of Texas Medical
 1-8     Branch at Galveston and served his internship at City County
 1-9     Hospital in Fort Worth; and
1-10           WHEREAS, Dr. Thomas began his distinguished medical career in
1-11     1954 with Drs. J. R. and J. C. Laughlin at the Laughlin Clinic in
1-12     Eagle Lake, and in 1976 he built Thomas Clinic; the trio of
1-13     physicians donated the original Laughlin facility to the Eagle Lake
1-14     Community Hospital where Dr. Thomas was chief of staff; for the
1-15     past 32 years, he held the position of clinical assistant professor
1-16     of family medicine at The University of Texas Medical School,
1-17     Houston, and recruited numerous doctors to the Eagle Lake area; and
1-18           WHEREAS, Highly respected by his colleagues, Dr. Thomas
1-19     served as vice president of the Texas Academy of Family Practice,
1-20     president of the Colorado-Fayette County Medical Society, and
1-21     medical director of the Eagle Lake Ambulance Corps; he was a
1-22     Diplomat of the American Board of Family Practice and was honored
1-23     by the Texas House of Representatives as Family Physician of the
1-24     Year in 1997; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, This esteemed physician contributed to the
 2-2     betterment of his community as choir director of the Eagle Lake
 2-3     United Methodist Church, president of the Eagle Lake Rotary Club, a
 2-4     school board trustee, a member of the American Legion Post No. 108
 2-5     and the Eagle Lake Lodge No. 366 A.F. & A.M., and as a supporter of
 2-6     the Sam Houston Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America; his
 2-7     diverse interests encompassed the Eagle Lake Little Theatre and
 2-8     directing the Prairie Edge Players; and
 2-9           WHEREAS, Dr. Raymond R. Thomas shared his impressive talents
2-10     wholeheartedly, and he served as an exemplary role model to the
2-11     many people who knew and admired him throughout his lifetime; now,
2-12     therefore, be it
2-13           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-14     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. Raymond R. Thomas
2-15     and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his
2-16     wife, Elfe Thomas; to his children, Julia Pardue, Raymond Russell
2-17     Thomas, Jr., Kurt Martin Thomas, and Griffith "Griff" Moses Thomas;
2-18     to his brother, Ralph "Rusty" Thomas; to his grandchildren; and to
2-19     the other relatives and many friends of this esteemed gentleman;
2-20     and, be it further
2-21           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-22     prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
2-23     Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dr.
2-24     Raymond R. Thomas.