By Christian H.R. No. 1191 77R17277 MMS-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Floyd A. "Doc" and Fannie Watson of Paxton have 1-2 dedicated their lives to serving the people of Shelby County and 1-3 Deep East Texas, and their efforts over the span of many decades 1-4 are appreciated more than they can ever know; and 1-5 WHEREAS, A longtime educator, Judge Watson was associated 1-6 with the Center Independent School District (ISD) for 16 years as a 1-7 teacher and principal; he served 15 years as superintendent of the 1-8 Tenaha ISD and 5 years as superintendent of the Joaquin ISD; and 1-9 WHEREAS, With his extensive administrative experience, he was 1-10 a natural choice to fill the position of Shelby County judge, a 1-11 post he has held since 1991, and the responsibilities of which he 1-12 has executed with his customary skill and wisdom; and 1-13 WHEREAS, His tremendous dedication to the people of this 1-14 region has led him to devote untold hours to the work of the Deep 1-15 East Texas Council of Governments; he has served the council as 1-16 president, as board member, and as a member of 21 committees, 1-17 councils, and task forces; among the areas of concern on which he 1-18 has worked are housing, health, transportation, education, and 1-19 economic development; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Judge Watson has served in a leadership position in 1-21 many other organizations, including the Deep East Texas Electric 1-22 Cooperative, Paxton Water Supply, I-69 Coalition, and 911-EMS, to 1-23 name only a few; and 1-24 WHEREAS, In 1993, Judge Watson received the Deep East Texas 2-1 Council of Governments President's Award for Outstanding Committee 2-2 Work in tribute to his commitment to improving the quality of life 2-3 for all Deep East Texas residents; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Like her husband, Fannie Watson has given of her 2-5 talents and energies without reserve, and in the process has opened 2-6 new vistas of opportunity for countless Texans; this accomplished 2-7 woman has been an educator for 49 years, the last 44 in the Center 2-8 ISD, where she currently directs the gifted and talented program at 2-9 C. H. Daniels Intermediate School and serves as a gifted/talented 2-10 teacher at Center Elementary School; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Passionate about the importance of encouraging 2-12 character, citizenship, and creativity, Mrs. Watson has helped her 2-13 fifth grade classes undertake Kids for Character projects, designed 2-14 to instill such essential traits as respect, trustworthiness, and 2-15 caring; her sixth grade classes have participated in Community 2-16 Problem Solving, a program of the Texas Education Agency in which 2-17 students have worked to improve the environment, collected needed 2-18 items for children in a Ukrainian orphanage, and helped younger 2-19 students to become better readers; their projects have been 2-20 outstanding, and they have placed first in the state three times at 2-21 the Texas State Future Problem Solving Conference in Austin and 2-22 have won seventh, fourth, and third place at the international 2-23 conferences; and 2-24 WHEREAS, Mrs. Watson also has sought to develop the 2-25 communication skills of her students, teaching language arts, 2-26 coaching public speaking, and serving as a University 2-27 Interscholastic League sponsor for prose, poetry, and ready 3-1 writing, and she has given many years' support to the 4-H Club, 3-2 another laudable program for fostering competence and 3-3 responsibility in young people; and 3-4 WHEREAS, Other educators have benefited from Mrs. Watson's 3-5 insightful presentations regarding community problem solving and 3-6 teaching gifted and talented children; in addition, she has 3-7 contributed to her profession through her active involvement in 3-8 Delta Kappa Gamma International, a professional teachers' 3-9 organization; and 3-10 WHEREAS, Along with their many civic and professional 3-11 affiliations, this couple are lay leaders and valued congregants of 3-12 Paxton United Methodist Church; and 3-13 WHEREAS, One could not have asked more from Doc and Fannie 3-14 Watson, whose tirelessness and generosity in the work of creating a 3-15 brighter future for others have enriched immeasurably the world 3-16 around them, and it is indeed a pleasure and a privilege to 3-17 recognize them at this time; now, therefore, be it 3-18 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 3-19 Legislature hereby honor Floyd A. "Doc" and Fannie Watson for their 3-20 exceptional community service and extend to them deep appreciation 3-21 for their efforts in behalf of the people of Texas; and, be it 3-22 further 3-23 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-24 prepared for Judge and Mrs. Watson as an expression of high regard 3-25 by the Texas House of Representatives.