R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Sylvia Smith, the esteemed chair of the Ellis County
 1-2     Historical Commission, was honored by the Texas Historical
 1-3     Commission at the 2001 Annual Historic Preservation Conference in
 1-4     Austin with the organization's John Ben Shepperd Leadership Award,
 1-5     which is given annually to honor outstanding leadership of a
 1-6     preservation organization; and
 1-7           WHEREAS, A most deserving recipient of this accolade,
 1-8     Mrs. Smith traces her lineage to Ellis County pioneers, and her
 1-9     commitment to the preservation of our shared Lone Star heritage is
1-10     reflected in her many notable achievements; and
1-11           WHEREAS, Under Mrs. Smith's expert direction, the Ellis
1-12     County Historical Commission has initiated numerous worthy
1-13     endeavors, including the Roof-Slate Project for the Ellis County
1-14     Courthouse and the Neglected Cemeteries Project, which marshaled
1-15     the efforts of volunteers to clean six cemeteries in the past year,
1-16     two of which have since received Texas historic cemetery
1-17     designations; and
1-18           WHEREAS, She serves as president of the Ellis County
1-19     Genealogy Society, the Red Oak History Association, and the
1-20     Lancaster Genealogical Society and is an active member of Historic
1-21     Waxahachie, Inc., and the Chautauqua Preservation Society; and
1-22           WHEREAS, Known to many as "Miss Ellie," a weekly guest host
1-23     on KBEC Radio, Mrs. Smith also contributes to the betterment of her
1-24     community as a board member of the Ellis County Museum and the
 2-1     North Ellis County Outreach Center; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, Sylvia Smith has done an exemplary job of preserving
 2-3     Ellis County's rich cultural and historical heritage for
 2-4     generations to come, and her efforts have earned her the lasting
 2-5     appreciation of her fellow Texans; now, therefore, be it
 2-6           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
 2-7     Legislature hereby congratulate Sylvia Smith on her receipt of the
 2-8     John Ben Shepperd Leadership Award from the Texas Historical
 2-9     Commission and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued
2-10     success; and, be it further
2-11           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-12     prepared for Mrs. Smith as an expression of high regard by the
2-13     Texas House of Representatives.
                                                                       Pitts
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 998 was adopted by the House on May
         18, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House