78S40509 MW-D

By:  Gallego                                                      H.R. No. 43 



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The passing of retired Colonel Ernest Lee Worley, 
Jr., of Del Rio on March 12, 2004, at the age of 84, has deeply 
saddened the family and many friends of this distinguished war hero 
and community volunteer; and
	WHEREAS, Born on October 3, 1919, in Krum, Colonel Worley 
graduated from Denton High School and attended North Texas 
University; in May 1941, he left college to enlist in the U.S. Army 
Air Corps and served his country with distinction during World War 
II; involved in numerous battles in the European Theater, Colonel 
Worley most notably participated in the landing party that stormed 
Normandy Beach in 1944, earning the Bronze Star for heroic action 
during the invasion; and
	WHEREAS, After returning to the United States, Colonel Worley 
was stationed on the island of Guam for two years; later, he was 
sent to Morocco, North Africa, as well as to duty stations in the 
United States, and he served in the Strategic Air Command's SR 71 
program in California; and
	WHEREAS, Colonel Worley retired in 1967 and returned to Del 
Rio, where he had once served; he worked for more than 30 years as 
the volunteer director of the local branch of the Salvation Army and 
was a longtime member and former president of the Rotary Club; he 
also served as a member of the Del Rio International Airport Board 
and as treasurer for the Val Verde Friends of the Arts in addition 
to volunteering his time to deliver Meals on Wheels to shut-ins; and
	WHEREAS, Exceedingly proud of the Eagle Scout badge he earned 
as a young man, Colonel Worley enjoyed working as an adult leader 
for the Boy Scouts of America; furthermore, he was an active member 
of the First United Methodist Church in Del Rio, and in 1995 he 
received the Martin Luther King Jr. Award from the Southwest Texas 
Annual Conference of United Methodist Church; and
	WHEREAS, Colonel Worley leaves behind a truly notable legacy 
of service to his nation and community, and this distinguished 
Texan who spent his life working in behalf of other people will not 
soon be forgotten; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature, 4th Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of 
retired Colonel Ernie Worley, Jr., and extend sincere sympathy to 
the members of his family:  to his beloved wife, Zina; to his four 
children, Cecil Worley Brezina, Ernest Lee Worley III, Seth Elliot 
Worley, and Robin Elisabeth Worley; to his three grandchildren, 
Ernest Lee Worley IV, Benjamin Elliot Worley, and Virginia Lee 
Worley; to his brother, Edwin Worley; 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 Colonel 
Ernest "Ernie" Lee Worley, Jr.