By Cook                                               H.R. No. 1393
         77R18054 MDM-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor
 1-2     Virgil Berry Richards in recognition of his 100th birthday; and
 1-3           WHEREAS, Born on September 24, 1901, in Indian territory near
 1-4     Wetumka, Oklahoma, he was delivered at home by Dr. Berry, and his
 1-5     middle name is in honor of the doctor; Mr. Richards grew up with
 1-6     eight brothers and one sister on a farm at Spring Hill, not far
 1-7     from his birthplace, and he attended a one-room school, completing
 1-8     all 10 grades that the school offered; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, On April 24, 1923, Mr. Richards married the former
1-10     Jannie Lancial, and the couple enjoyed a close relationship that
1-11     lasted more than 75 years, until her passing in 1998 at the age of
1-12     93; Mr. Richards takes great pride in his family, including his
1-13     daughter and son-in-law, Louise Mary and Henry Volz; his grandsons
1-14     and their wives, John and Candace Volz and Robert and Pauline Volz;
1-15     and five great-grandchildren, Warren, Emery, Evelyn, Stephen, and
1-16     Megan Volz; and
1-17           WHEREAS, This industrious young man farmed and also was a
1-18     house mover, coal miner, oil field worker, and refinery stillman;
1-19     and
1-20           WHEREAS, He moved to Corpus Christi in 1938 to work for
1-21     Pontiac Refining Company, which later became Great Southern, and in
1-22     1946 he began a 19-year career with Phillips Petroleum Company at
1-23     its refinery in Old Ocean, retiring in 1965 as assistant
1-24     superintendent; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, After retirement, Mr. Richards and his wife moved to
 2-2     Okmulgee, Oklahoma, to be near old friends and for the fishing,
 2-3     then in 1979 they moved back to Texas and bought a house near their
 2-4     daughter; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, Over the course of his 100 years, this esteemed
 2-6     gentleman has lived under the leadership of 19  presidents,
 2-7     survived the Great Depression, and seen the development of myriad
 2-8     historic inventions, including coal-fired, then oil-fired, steam
 2-9     trains, the automobile and national road system, airplanes, and
2-10     computers; and
2-11           WHEREAS, The birthday of Mr. Richards provides a fitting
2-12     opportunity for his friends and relatives to recognize the
2-13     significant happiness he has brought to them and the positive
2-14     impact he has had on the countless individuals whose lives he has
2-15     touched; now, therefore, be it
2-16           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-17     Legislature hereby congratulate Virgil Berry Richards on the
2-18     momentous occasion of his 100th birthday and extend to him sincere
2-19     best wishes for the future; and, be it further
2-20           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-21     prepared for Mr. Richards as an expression of high regard by the
2-22     Texas House of Representatives.