H.R. No. 1257



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The passing of Martha George Beard of Waco on 
September 23, 2002, at the age of 74, deeply saddened her family and 
many friends throughout the Waco community; and
	WHEREAS, A native Texan, she was born on June 4, 1928, in 
Blooming Grove; she graduated from Texas State College for Women 
with a degree in costume design, later took education courses at The 
University of Texas, and taught in Odessa before her marriage to Pat 
Beard in 1954; and
	WHEREAS, One of the Waco Symphony Orchestra's most avid 
supporters, she was a past president of the Waco Symphony Council 
and the first woman to serve as president of the Waco Symphony 
Association; her community involvement extended to the boards of 
the Texas Cultural Trust Endowment, the Waco Hippodrome, and the 
Art Center of Waco, and she was a longtime patron of the Lyric Opera 
of Waco; and
	WHEREAS, This valued congregant of Austin Avenue United 
Methodist Church was a board member at the time of her passing, and 
participated as well with the Central Texas Senior Ministry and 
Caritas, the latter of which she had benefited as president and as a 
board member; she co-chaired the McLennan Community College 
Foundation and shared her time and resources with the Junior League 
of Waco, the Waco Cotton Palace, and the Brazos Forum; and
	WHEREAS, This beloved woman had the gift of making people 
feel special; while many will remember her for her contributions to 
her community, her family will always cherish the long hours she 
spent sewing dress-up clothes and attending school events in which 
her grandchildren participated; and
	WHEREAS, Those who were fortunate enough to know Martha Beard 
will long remember her with great affection and admiration and the 
blessing of her life will warm their hearts for many years to come; 
now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Martha George Beard 
and extend sincere sympathy to her husband, Pat Beard; to her 
daughter, Carey Casey, and her husband, Don; to her sons, Mike Beard 
and his wife, Vicki; Bramlet Beard and his wife, Michelle; Joe Beard 
and his wife, Sherry; and Bob Beard and his wife, Laura; to her 
grandchildren; to her sisters, Jane Taylor and Bobby Jo Dyar; to her 
nephew, Horace Beard; and to her other relatives and many friends; 
and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of 
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Martha 
George Beard.

                                                                          Dunnam


                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 1257 was unanimously adopted by a 
rising vote of the House on May 21, 2003.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House