1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 130 1-3 In Memory 1-4 of 1-5 Dr. Lawrence Ray Clayton 1-6 WHEREAS, The residents of Abilene lost a valued citizen 1-7 with the death of Dr. Lawrence Ray Clayton, the beloved dean of 1-8 the College of Liberal Arts at Hardin-Simmons University, on 1-9 December 31, 2000, at the age of 62; and 1-10 WHEREAS, A native of San Antonio, Dr. Clayton was a 1-11 graduate of Rusk High School and Ranger Junior College; he 1-12 furthered his studies by earning bachelor's and master's degrees 1-13 from Stephen F. Austin State University, an additional master's 1-14 degree from the University of North Texas, and a doctorate from 1-15 Texas Tech University; and 1-16 WHEREAS, This patriotic Texan was a veteran of both the 1-17 Texas National Guard and the United States Army and proudly served 1-18 his country as an officer during the Berlin Crisis; and 1-19 WHEREAS, Dr. Clayton began his exceptional teaching 1-20 career as an instructor at his alma mater, Rusk High School; he 1-21 then taught at R. L. Turner High School in Carrollton and 1-22 Texas Tech University before joining the staff of Hardin-Simmons 2-1 University as an English professor in 1968; for 33 years this 2-2 esteemed educator touched the lives of countless students through 2-3 his work as a professor, department head, dean of the English 2-4 department, and finally dean of the College of Liberal Arts; and 2-5 WHEREAS, An accomplished author and historian as well, 2-6 Dr. Clayton documented the life of contemporary cowboys and the 2-7 history of ranching in Texas; he held membership in a host of 2-8 related organizations, including the West Texas Historical 2-9 Association, the Southwest Popular Cultural Association, the 2-10 Texas Folklore Society, and the Western Literature Association, 2-11 and he was a founding member of the Western Heritage Classic; and 2-12 WHEREAS, This estimable gentleman authored more than 2-13 30 books, 170 reviews, 130 articles, and numerous videos; 2-14 among his acclaimed titles are Clear Fork Cowboys, Historic 2-15 Ranches of Texas, Watkins Reynolds Matthews: A Biography, 2-16 and Ranch Rodeos in West Texas; his latest work, Ranching: 2-17 The History and Current Operation of Sixteen Working Ranches 2-18 in Texas, is due to be released in the summer of 2001; and 2-19 WHEREAS, Dr. Clayton was recognized as a Ranger Junior 2-20 College Distinguished Alumnus in 1976 and as a Distinguished 2-21 English Graduate of Texas Tech University and the University of 2-22 North Texas in 1988 and 1990, respectively; he was also the 2-23 recipient of the Cowboy Culture Award for Writing and Publishing 2-24 from the National Cowboy Symposium in Lubbock; and 2-25 WHEREAS, Highly regarded throughout the Hardin-Simmons 2-26 campus, he was most recently honored by the Dodge Jones Foundation 3-1 with the endowment of the Clayton Roundtable Room in the 3-2 Elwin L. Skiles Social Sciences Building, which is being built 3-3 at the university; and 3-4 WHEREAS, The memory of this esteemed Texan will long 3-5 endure through the lasting legacy of achievement he leaves 3-6 behind; now, therefore, be it 3-7 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-8 77th Legislature, hereby honor the life of 3-9 Dr. Lawrence Ray Clayton and extend sincere condolences 3-10 to his loved ones: his wife, Sonja Clayton; his daughter 3-11 and son-in-law, DeLys and Matt Mitchell; his daughter, 3-12 Lea Clayton; his grandchildren, Amanda and Ashley Mitchell; 3-13 and his many other relatives and friends; and, be it further 3-14 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be 3-15 prepared for the members of his family as an expression of 3-16 deepest sympathy from the Texas Senate, and that when the 3-17 Senate adjourns this day, it do so in memory of 3-18 Dr. Lawrence Ray Clayton. 3-19 Fraser 3-20 Armbrister Harris Shapiro 3-21 Barrientos Haywood Shapleigh 3-22 Bernsen Jackson Sibley 3-23 Bivins Lindsay Staples 3-24 Brown Lucio Truan 3-25 Cain Madla Van de Putte 3-26 Carona Moncrief Wentworth 3-27 Duncan Nelson West 3-28 Ellis Ogden Whitmire 3-29 Gallegos Zaffirini 3-30 Ratliff, President of the Senate 3-31 ______________________________________ 4-1 President of the Senate 4-2 I hereby certify that the above 4-3 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 4-4 on January 30, 2001, by a rising vote. 4-5 ______________________________________ 4-6 Secretary of the Senate 4-7 ______________________________________ 4-8 Member, Texas Senate