H.R. No. 125
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Alpine community lost a distinguished native son
when Franklin W. Daugherty passed away on August 23, 2003, at the
age of 76; and
WHEREAS, Born on June 20, 1927, in Alpine, Dr. Daugherty grew
up on his family's homestead in Brewster County, where he developed
a lifelong love for ranching and geology; in 1945, he graduated
from Alpine High School, and on July 18 of that year he married the
former Dorothy Mae Cotten, with whom he shared a strong bond of love
until her passing in 1998; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Daugherty served in the U.S. Army from February
1946 to July 1947; after his tour of duty, he enrolled in the
geology program at Sul Ross State University (SRSU), completing his
bachelor of science degree in 1950; he and his wife then purchased
the Grandview Courts and the Alto Lodge in Alpine from his parents,
operating the businesses until their sale in 1954; and
WHEREAS, During the drought of 1953, Dr. Daugherty drew on
his expertise as a geologist to locate a well and increase the water
supply available to Alpine residents by 55 percent; in 1958, he
resumed his formal geological studies, earning a master of arts
degree and a doctorate from The University of Texas at Austin; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Daugherty was an acknowledged expert on
groundwater geology, the mineral deposits of the Trans-Pecos
region, and the fluorspar and beryllium deposits of northern
Coahuila, Mexico; in the early 1950s, he served as superintendent
of the Lone Star mercury mines and as a contractor with Dow Chemical
Company, participating in the evaluation of newly discovered
fluorspar deposits in Coahuila, Mexico, which would eventually
develop into the Agua Chile and Malabrigo mines; and
WHEREAS, This remarkable man later worked for Dow Chemical
Company's Mexican subsidiary, evaluating tellurium and gold
deposits in the Mexican state of Sonora; in 1963, he became a
professor in the Department of Geology at West Texas State
University (WTSU), applying his natural talent for explaining
complex processes in understandable ways; and
WHEREAS, In addition to revising the university's geology
curriculum and introducing more than a dozen new geology courses,
Dr. Daugherty served as director of Earth Science Research at the
Kilgore Research Center at WTSU, funding his research projects with
grants from various organizations, including the National Science
Foundation; he also earned the Faculty Excellence Award, which he
used to establish the Geology Merit Scholarship at WTSU; and
WHEREAS, Notably, Dr. Daugherty was one of three scientists
to discover a new complex mercury mineral from the Perry Pit in the
Terlingua Mercury district, and he was also the consulting
geologist responsible for the discovery and exploration of the
Whitroy Mine; moreover, he founded D and F Minerals with a former
student, and its work in La Mina Paisano attracted geologists and
mining engineers from the world over who were interested in the
geology of the area and the mining techniques used in that rugged
and remote terrain; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Daugherty was a fellow of the Geological Society
of America and a fellow of the Society of the Sigma Xi; his
extensive public service included an appointment to the Texas
Mining Council in 1981 by Governor William P. Clements, a 19-year
membership on the Brewster County Historical Commission, which he
served as chairman for 15 years, and an advisory position with the
Big Bend Natural History Association; a member of the advisory
council and the executive committee of the Center for Big Bend
Studies at SRSU, Dr. Daugherty also authored numerous historical
papers published in the Journal of Big Bend Studies; and
WHEREAS, Among his many other contributions to learning were
his efforts to establish the McAnulty Geology Excellence
Scholarship, the Flora L. Daugherty Scholarship, and the Alpine
High School Ex-Students' Scholarship at Sul Ross State University;
in 2000, he created the Franklin W. and Dorothy Cotten Daugherty
Memorial Endowment and Memorial Excellence Funds at the Center for
Big Bend Studies; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Daugherty was a life member of the SRSU
Ex-Students Association and served as a member of several of the
university's committees; in 1996, he was duly honored by his alma
mater with its Distinguished Alumnus award; and
WHEREAS, The life of this extraordinary Texan featured
numerous outstanding accomplishments in geological science,
education, and philanthropy; through an uncommon dedication and
tireless work ethic, Dr. Daugherty positively influenced the lives
of countless individuals, and his legacy will stand as a model for
future generations of young people who share the same thirst for
knowledge and desire to achieve excellence; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of
Frank Daugherty and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his
family: to his three children, Sheila B. Daugherty, Stephen F.
Daugherty, and Claire Newman; to his five grandchildren; to his
sister, Flora Daugherty; and to his other relatives and many
friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Franklin W.
Daugherty.
Gallego
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 125 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on October 10, 2003.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House