R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The citizens of Austin lost a valued friend and
1-2 esteemed businessman with the death of Ralph Murray Shaw, Jr., on
1-3 February 16, 2001, at the age of 69; and
1-4 WHEREAS, Born on October 27, 1931, in Texarkana, Arkansas, he
1-5 earned a bachelor of science degree in history and government and a
1-6 master of education degree in administration from Stephen F. Austin
1-7 State University (SFA), where he was a standout basketball player;
1-8 he later served as president of the SFA Alumni and Letterman's
1-9 associations, and in 1986, he was named to the Letterman's
1-10 Association Hall of Fame; and
1-11 WHEREAS, Mr. Shaw was appointed to the SFA Board of Regents
1-12 in 1993 and served until 1999, the last two years as chairman; a
1-13 proud alumnus, he mentored numerous students and established the
1-14 Murray Shaw Lumberjack/Ladyjack Scholar Athlete Award in 1993 and
1-15 the Joe Shaw Memorial Scholarship for Communication Majors in
1-16 memory of his son in 1995, and he endowed an academic scholarship
1-17 for Lumberjack basketball in July 1998; and
1-18 WHEREAS, After his college graduation, he moved to Tivoli and
1-19 joined the staff of Austwell-Tivoli High School, where he was a
1-20 history and civics teacher and basketball coach for six years
1-21 before moving to Austin in 1961 and working at the Texas Education
1-22 Agency; he retired from Tracor, Inc., in 1997, after a
1-23 distinguished 30-year association that included 16 years as
1-24 corporate vice president for human resources; and
2-1 WHEREAS, A member of the Austin Community College Board of
2-2 Regents from 1988 to 1993, Mr. Shaw garnered many awards during his
2-3 lifetime, including a City of Austin Distinguished Service Award in
2-4 1981, a Mayor's Committee for Employment of the Handicapped
2-5 Employer of the Year award in 1981, and an International
2-6 Association of Official Human Rights Agencies Business Industry
2-7 Award in 1988; more recently, the reception room at the William R.
2-8 Johnson Coliseum at SFA was named the Murray Shaw Championship Room
2-9 in his honor in recognition of his extensive work in behalf of the
2-10 university; and
2-11 WHEREAS, Ralph Murray Shaw, Jr., exemplified the highest
2-12 standards in his personal and professional life, and his sense of
2-13 humor and genuine interest in helping others will long be missed by
2-14 all who knew and admired him; now, therefore, be it
2-15 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-16 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Ralph Murray Shaw,
2-17 Jr., and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to
2-18 his wife, Diane; to his son, Bob, and his wife, Rene; to his son,
2-19 Bill; to his daughter, Amy; to his grandchildren, Alyssa and
2-20 Reagan; to his sisters, Elaine, Virginia, Wilba, and Mary Francis
2-21 and her husband, Ken; and to his other relatives and many friends;
2-22 and, be it further
2-23 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-24 prepared for the members of his family and when the Texas House of
2-25 Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ralph
2-26 Murray Shaw, Jr.
Christian
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1306 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 28, 2001.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House