1-1                                     1                                  
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 483
 1-3                                  In Memory
 1-4                                     of
 1-5                                  Zac Lentz
 1-6           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the citizens
 1-7     of Victoria and Texans across the state in mourning the loss of
 1-8     Zac Lentz, who died Monday, March 5, 2001, at the age of 87; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, Born April 27, 1913, in Red Rock, Texas, Zac Lentz
1-10     was a farmer and a leading Texas citizen who played a major role
1-11     in shaping the City of Victoria and its surrounding area; and
1-12           WHEREAS, Long recognized as a giant in the Victoria
1-13     community, Zac Lentz dedicated his life to improving the lives
1-14     of fellow Texans and the infrastructure of Southeast Texas; and
1-15           WHEREAS, Zac Lentz graduated from Texas A&M University and
1-16     moved with his wife, Evelyn, to Victoria during the late 1930s;
1-17     he entered the grocery business with $3,000 that he borrowed from
1-18     his father, and he proceeded to build an entrepreneurship that
1-19     included a hardware store, banks, farm and ranch holdings, and
1-20     various investments; Mr. Lentz was the founder and president of
1-21     the South Texas Savings and Loan Association, a founder of the
1-22     American Bank of Commerce, and a director of Victoria's NCNB
 2-1     Texas bank; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, A well-known community leader as early as the
 2-3     1940s, Zac Lentz helped to organize the Victoria Livestock Show
 2-4     and then served for years as its general chairman; in 1949, he
 2-5     was named Outstanding Young Man of the Year by the Victoria
 2-6     Jaycees, a group he had helped to create; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, In the 1960s, Mr. Lentz and the late
 2-8     Tom O'Connor, Jr., were co-chairmen in the effort that led
 2-9     to the construction of the city's Victoria Community Center;
2-10     Zac Lentz is also credited with playing a large role in the
2-11     development of the Victoria Barge Canal and the acquisition
2-12     by Victoria County of Foster Field, now the Victoria Regional
2-13     Airport; and
2-14           WHEREAS, In 1992, Mr. Lentz was awarded the University of
2-15     Houston-Victoria's highest honor, the Presidential Medal for his
2-16     efforts to establish the university; he was responsible for the
2-17     millions of dollars worth of highway projects that have helped to
2-18     keep Victoria's traffic problems at bay; he personally secured the
2-19     votes for the Zac Lentz Parkway and was responsible for extensive
2-20     road improvement, the construction of Loop 463, and the much-needed
2-21     widening of a number of area highways; and
2-22           WHEREAS, In the early 1970s, Mr. Lentz was appointed by
2-23     Speaker of the House Gus Mutscher to a committee to study the
2-24     duties and ethics of the Texas Legislature; in the 1980s, he
 3-1     served on the state's Committee of 100 for the Merit Selection of
 3-2     Judges and was co-chairman of Texans for a Conservative Congress;
 3-3     and
 3-4           WHEREAS, In recent years, Mr. Lentz successfully led
 3-5     efforts to pass Victoria's half-cent sales tax and to approve bonds
 3-6     to expand the county jail, upgrade schools, and improve Victoria's
 3-7     drinking water system; and
 3-8           WHEREAS, An exemplary and distinguished gentleman, Zac Lentz
 3-9     was held in the highest respect by the people of Victoria and by
3-10     politicians and leaders across our state; he was a delegate to the
3-11     Democratic national conventions in the 1950s and 1960s and worked
3-12     on campaigns to elect John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and
3-13     John Connally; and
3-14           WHEREAS, A man of exceptional integrity, strength, and
3-15     generosity, he gave unselfishly of his time to the City of Victoria,
3-16     to his state, and to his fellowman, and his wisdom, warmth, and
3-17     valued counsel will not be forgotten; and
3-18           WHEREAS, Zac Lentz lived his life to the fullest and was a
3-19     devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and he leaves behind
3-20     memories that will be treasured forever by his family and many
3-21     friends; now, therefore, be it
3-22           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
3-23     77th Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the
 4-1     bereaved family of Zac Lentz:  his wife, Evelyn Lentz; his
 4-2     daughters, Joan Shipnes and Linda Elmore; his brother, Tom Lentz;
 4-3     and his five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; and, be
 4-4     it further
 4-5           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the
 4-6     members of his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the
 4-7     Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so
 4-8     in memory of Zac Lentz.
 4-9                                                              Armbrister
4-10                                  ______________________________________
4-11                                         President of the Senate
4-12                                       I hereby certify that the above
4-13                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
4-14                                  on March 15, 2001, by a rising vote.
4-15                                  ______________________________________
4-16                                         Secretary of the Senate
4-17                                  ______________________________________
4-18                                           Member, Texas Senate