R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The citizens of San Antonio lost a distinguished
1-2 native son with the death of Marshall Terrell Steves, Sr., on
1-3 October 30, 2000, at the age of 77; and
1-4 WHEREAS, Born February 25, 1923, this esteemed Texan was a
1-5 13th generation San Antonian and a descendant of Juan Curbelo, who
1-6 arrived in San Antonio on March 9, 1731, with 55 other Canary
1-7 Islanders and helped found the first civilian government in Texas;
1-8 and
1-9 WHEREAS, Mr. Steves was a graduate of San Antonio Academy,
1-10 the Texas Military Institute, and the United States Naval Academy
1-11 at Annapolis, and served his country for two years in submarines
1-12 before returning to San Antonio to run the family business; and
1-13 WHEREAS, He was chairman of the board of Steves & Sons at the
1-14 time of his death; the company is among San Antonio's earliest and
1-15 is the oldest building materials business in the United States run
1-16 by its founding family; and
1-17 WHEREAS, A prominent community leader as well, Mr. Steves was
1-18 involved with a host of civic organizations, but was perhaps best
1-19 known as one of the visionaries responsible for HemisFair '68, the
1-20 World's Fair that opened in San Antonio in April 1968 and attracted
1-21 six million visitors from throughout the world to the Alamo City
1-22 during its six highly successful months of operation; and
1-23 WHEREAS, After completing his role with the fair, Mr. Steves
1-24 and his wife, Patsy, devoted themselves more fully to their
2-1 interest in collecting Mexican and Latin American folk art; through
2-2 the years, the San Antonio Museum of Art benefitted greatly from
2-3 their efforts, and the couple played a major role in the creation
2-4 of the Nelson Rockefeller Center for Latin American Art, which
2-5 opened in 1998; and
2-6 WHEREAS, Countless individuals were saddened by the passing
2-7 of this beloved Texan; among the hundreds of mourners at his
2-8 funeral was Lady Bird Johnson, with whom Mr. and Mrs. Steves had a
2-9 long-standing friendship; and
2-10 WHEREAS, Marshall Terrell Steves, Sr., led a rewarding life
2-11 filled with numerous accomplishments and dreams lived, and his
2-12 memory will undoubtedly continue to dwell in the hearts and minds
2-13 of the many people who knew and admired him; now, therefore, be it
2-14 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-15 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Marshall Terrell
2-16 Steves, Sr., and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his
2-17 family: to his wife, Patsy Steves; to his three sons, Marshall
2-18 Terrell Steves, Jr., Edward Galt Steves, and Sam Bell Steves II; to
2-19 his six grandchildren; and to his other relatives and many friends;
2-20 and, be it further
2-21 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-22 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
2-23 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
2-24 Marshall Terrell Steves, Sr.
Jones of Bexar
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1009 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 25, 2001.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House