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 has most recently worked with the gifted and 2-9 talented program for grades three through six; and 2-10 WHEREAS, Passionate about the importance of encouraging 2-11 character, citizenship, and creativity, Mrs. Watson has helped her 2-12 fifth grade classes undertake Kids for Character projects, designed 2-13 to instill such essential traits as respect, trustworthiness, and 2-14 caring; her sixth grade classes have participated in Community 2-15 Problem Solving, a program of the Texas Education Agency in which 2-16 students have worked to improve the environment, collected needed 2-17 items for children in a Ukrainian orphanage, and helped younger 2-18 students to become better readers; their projects have been 2-19 outstanding, carrying them to a first-place finish at the state 2-20 competition in Austin on four occasions, including 2001, and to 2-21 repeated success at the international level; and 2-22 WHEREAS, Mrs. Watson also has sought to develop the 2-23 communication skills of her students, teaching language arts, 2-24 coaching public speaking, and serving as a University 2-25 Interscholastic League sponsor for prose, poetry, and ready 2-26 writing, and she has given many years' support to the 4-H Club, 2-27 another laudable program for fostering competence and 3-1 responsibility in young people; and 3-2 WHEREAS, Other educators have benefited from Mrs. Watson's 3-3 insightful presentations regarding community problem solving and 3-4 teaching gifted and talented children; in addition, she has 3-5 contributed to her profession through her active involvement in 3-6 Delta Kappa Gamma International, an honorary educational 3-7 organization for women; and 3-8 WHEREAS, Along with their many civic and professional 3-9 affiliations, this couple are lay leaders and valued congregants of 3-10 Paxton United Methodist Church; and 3-11 WHEREAS, One could not have asked more from Doc and Fannie 3-12 Watson, whose tirelessness and generosity in the work of creating a 3-13 brighter future for others have enriched immeasurably the world 3-14 around them, and it is indeed a pleasure and a privilege to 3-15 recognize them at this time; now, therefore, be it 3-16 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 3-17 Legislature hereby honor Floyd A. "Doc" and Fannie Watson for their 3-18 exceptional community service and extend to them deep appreciation 3-19 for their efforts in behalf of the people of Texas; and, be it 3-20 further 3-21 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-22 prepared for Judge and Mrs. Watson as an expression of high regard 3-23 by the Texas House of Representatives. Christian _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1212 was adopted by the House on May 28, 2001, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House