By Christian                                          H.R. No. 1212
         77R17512 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 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.