By Hilderbran H.R. No. 880
77R13844 MW-D
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The family and friends of Dr. Luther W. Ross of
1-2 Kerrville suffered an immeasurable loss when this esteemed Texan
1-3 passed away on March 5, 2000, at the age of 77; and
1-4 WHEREAS, Born September 14, 1922, Dr. Ross was an army
1-5 veteran and attended The University of Texas at Austin, during part
1-6 of which time he worked as a clerk for Governor Coke Stevenson; he
1-7 went on to study at Baylor Medical School, graduating in 1947, and
1-8 interned at Methodist Hospital in Houston; and
1-9 WHEREAS, In 1948, Dr. Ross embarked on a distinguished career
1-10 with the State of Texas when he was appointed clinical director of
1-11 Austin State School; three years later, he was named superintendent
1-12 of Abilene State Hospital, becoming the youngest person ever to
1-13 serve as the superintendent of a state hospital; returning to
1-14 Austin later that year, he served as senior psychiatrist until
1-15 1954, when he was made clinical director for Kerrville State Home;
1-16 in 1955 he was promoted to superintendent of Kerrville State
1-17 Hospital, where he worked until retiring in 1992; and
1-18 WHEREAS, As superintendent, Dr. Ross oversaw services for
1-19 1,500 patients; he was instrumental in securing funding for the
1-20 construction of 25 new buildings on the Kerrville campus, and
1-21 during his tenure the facility had the lowest cost per patient per
1-22 day in the entire Texas mental health hospital system; and
1-23 WHEREAS, Responsible for many innovative programs for patient
1-24 psychiatric care, Dr. Ross developed a strong clinical department
2-1 and transformed the hospital's role from one of custodial care to
2-2 rehabilitation; he instituted a summer camping program for patients
2-3 and, in 1970, helped to initiate the Dietert Claim program; and
2-4 WHEREAS, His many professional activities included being a
2-5 member of the Hill Country Medical Association and the American
2-6 Psychiatric Society; deeply involved in his patients' lives, he was
2-7 admired by his staff as a leader and mentor who regularly walked
2-8 the facility, getting to know the occupants of the hospital; and
2-9 WHEREAS, Dr. Ross also contributed to his community through
2-10 service in various civic organizations; he was chairman of the Kerr
2-11 County Committee on Aging and president of the Kerrville Kiwanis
2-12 Club; a Boy Scout Explorer troop scouting coordinator, he worked on
2-13 the board of directors of the J. M. Auld Youth Center, the Kerr
2-14 County United Way Campaign, and the Kerr County Red Cross; and
2-15 WHEREAS, Befitting a man so overwhelmingly committed to his
2-16 profession and town, Dr. Ross was the recipient of numerous awards
2-17 throughout his life; in 1956 the Kerrville Jaycees named him the
2-18 Outstanding Young Man of the Year, and in 1980 he received the
2-19 David Wade Commissioner's Award from the Volunteer Council at
2-20 Kerrville State Hospital; named Citizen of the Year by the Kiwanis
2-21 Club, Dr. Ross won the prestigious Gold Cup Award from the American
2-22 Psychiatric Association in 1990; and
2-23 WHEREAS, A devoted husband and loving father, this
2-24 distinguished figure in the medical profession was recognized as a
2-25 talented and personable administrator, an excellent and caring
2-26 doctor, and an outstanding citizen of the Lone Star State; now,
2-27 therefore, be it
3-1 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
3-2 Legislature hereby honor the life of Dr. Luther W. Ross and extend
3-3 sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, Rebecca
3-4 Ross; to his daughters, Betsy Colvin and Susie Gass; to his son,
3-5 Wayne Ross; and to his five grandchildren, other relatives, and
3-6 many friends; and, be it further
3-7 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-8 prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
3-9 Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dr. Luther
3-10 W. Ross.