By Callegari                                          H.R. No. 1081
         77R16294 MMS-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Rodger and Ellen Beck Junior High School in Katy is
 1-2     named in honor of two beloved, longtime educators in the Katy
 1-3     Independent School District; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Beck met as young teachers in Katy in
 1-5     the 1960s, having both been hired as science teachers and
 1-6     junior/senior high coaches; a native of Minden, Louisiana, and a
 1-7     recent graduate of Northwestern Louisiana State University, Ellen
 1-8     Baker joined the Katy school district in 1962; when Rodger Beck
 1-9     later arrived, Katy students tried their collective hand at
1-10     matchmaking, but the couple feigned disinterest so successfully
1-11     that when they announced their engagement a year after meeting, the
1-12     announcement caught everyone totally by surprise; and
1-13           WHEREAS, After taking time out between 1967 and 1971 to care
1-14     for their two young sons, Mrs. Beck returned to teaching and to
1-15     coaching the volleyball and track and field programs; in 1976 she
1-16     was assigned solely to Katy Senior High, where she prepared many
1-17     students for track events at the regional and state level and where
1-18     her volleyball program became a perennial powerhouse; under her
1-19     expert guidance, Katy High School reached the volleyball playoffs
1-20     nearly every year, with six teams winning district championships,
1-21     two advancing to the state semi-finals, three qualifying for
1-22     regional competition, and three securing regional runner-up titles;
1-23     and
1-24           WHEREAS, Born in Woodsboro, Texas, Mr. Beck earned a
 2-1     bachelor's degree from Southwest Texas State University and a
 2-2     master's degree in education from Sam Houston State University; a
 2-3     versatile coach, he worked with football, basketball, and track and
 2-4     field teams, and as head track coach helped numerous athletes
 2-5     qualify for regional and state competition; in 1976 he assumed the
 2-6     post of Katy Junior High School counselor; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, When Rodger Beck passed away on March 16, 1995, the
 2-8     Katy community lost one of its most caring educators--a man who
 2-9     sought and found goodness in everyone he met and whose generosity
2-10     with his time and support was unfailing; in 1996 Ellen Beck retired
2-11     as the assistant athletic coordinator at Katy High School, having
2-12     given hundreds of students a vision of what they might attain with
2-13     disciplined effort, and thus having helped them discover one of the
2-14     most important keys to a fulfilling life; and
2-15           WHEREAS, In their 30 years of service with the Katy ISD, both
2-16     Rodger and Ellen Beck gave unstintingly of their talents and
2-17     efforts to the youth of the community, and the naming of Rodger and
2-18     Ellen Beck Junior High School in 1996 was a most fitting tribute to
2-19     the place they held in the hearts of Katy students, parents, and
2-20     fellow educators; now, therefore, be it
2-21           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-22     Legislature hereby honor Ellen Beck and the life of Rodger Beck for
2-23     their immeasurable gifts to their students and to their schools in
2-24     the Katy Independent School District; and, be it further
2-25           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-26     prepared for Ellen Beck as an expression of high regard by the
2-27     Texas House of Representatives.