H.R. No. 56 



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The family and friends of Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) 
Rodney Saylor Griffith of Lockhart suffered a great loss with the 
passing of this beloved man on August 21, 2003, at the age of 64; and
	WHEREAS, Born in Belton on May 15, 1939, Colonel Griffith 
graduated from Lockhart High School, where he excelled at sports, 
and from Texas A&M University, where he attained the rank of cadet 
colonel and served as executive officer of the Maroon Band; and
	WHEREAS, Following his graduation from college in 1961, he 
received a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States 
Air Force; during his outstanding 22-year military career, Colonel 
Griffith logged over 12,000 flight hours, including more than 1,500 
combat flight hours in Vietnam; he flew C-124s and C-141s, the 
largest transport aircraft in the world at that time, and the HH-53 
helicopter, nicknamed the Jolly Green Giant; and
	WHEREAS, During the Vietnam War, Colonel Griffith rescued 
more persons from behind enemy lines than any other American in 
history; on May 1, 1972, he earned a Silver Star for his actions in 
airlifting 129 American and South Vietnamese soldiers from the 
besieged city of Quang Tri; he also took part in a 12-day mission to 
rescue an American officer who was shot down behind enemy lines, an 
operation that became the subject of two books and a movie titled 
Bat 21; and
	WHEREAS, In 1981, Colonel Griffith participated in the 
attempted rescue of Americans who were being held hostage in Iran; 
although the mission was ultimately aborted in the Iranian 
countryside, Colonel Griffith succeeded in saving his crew and 
Delta Force troops, as well as his helicopter; and
	WHEREAS, On the basis of his extensive experience, Colonel 
Griffith developed two new programs that improved the effectiveness 
of search and rescue operations conducted by the air force; he also 
established a school to offer instruction in one of these programs 
at Charleston Air Force Base; and
	WHEREAS, Over the course of his career, this dedicated 
officer received numerous military citations for his bravery and 
service; in addition to the Silver Star, these accolades included 
four Distinguished Flying Cross medals, two Meritorious Service 
medals, and four Air medals; and
	WHEREAS, Following his retirement from the air force in 1982, 
Colonel Griffith returned to Lockhart and took up a second career as 
a farmer; bringing his considerable drive and talents to bear on 
this new vocation, he became so proficient that in 1991 the Lockhart 
Chamber of Commerce named him Agriculturist of the Year; and
	WHEREAS, Throughout a life rich in accomplishments, Rodney 
Griffith treasured his family above all and treated everyone he met 
with dignity and consideration; deeply loved and profoundly admired 
in return, he exemplified the virtues of courage, generosity, 
humility, and dedication to duty, and it is a privilege to join in 
honoring the memory of this exceptional Texan; now, therefore, be 
it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby pay special tribute to the 
life of Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Rodney Saylor Griffith and extend 
sincere sympathy to the members of his family:  to his wife, Peggy 
Joyce Hilburn Griffith; to his children, Rodney Todd Griffith, 
Christina Deanne Griffith, and Curtis Ryan Griffith; to his 
brother, Dr. Donald Paul Griffith; to his sister, Glenda Sue 
Griffith Ehrig; and to his other relatives and many friends; and, be 
it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas House 
of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of 
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Rodney Saylor Griffith.

                                                                            Rose


                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 56 was unanimously adopted by a rising 
vote of the House on September 22, 2003.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House