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