78R16706 WMS-D

By:  Hilderbran                                                   H.R. No. 1487



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Bob Hope is celebrating his 100th birthday on May 
29, 2003, and it is a great pleasure to honor this legendary 
entertainer and humanitarian who has brought smiles and laughter to 
generations of fans around the world; and
	WHEREAS, Born Leslie Townes Hope in Eltham, England, on May 
29, 1903, Mr. Hope moved with his family to Cleveland, Ohio, four 
years later; although he held jobs as a soda jerk, shoe salesman, 
and newspaper vendor, he was determined to pursue his dream of 
becoming an entertainer, and took dancing lessons from 
professionals King Rastus Brown and Johnny Root after high school; 
and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Hope broke into vaudeville as a dancer partnered 
with Mildred Rosequist and later worked with Lloyd Durbin and 
George Byrne, but gained his greatest success after becoming a solo 
act; his prolific Broadway career, which began with Sidewalks of 
New York, enabled Mr. Hope to share the stage with such other greats 
as Ruby Keeler, Fanny Brice, Ethel Merman, and Jimmy Durante; and
	WHEREAS, Blessed with a wry delivery and impeccable comic 
timing, Mr. Hope was an ideal choice for radio variety programming; 
his first major appearance was on The Fleischmann Hour, and he 
quickly established himself as one of the biggest stars in radio 
broadcasting, remaining a fixture on the airwaves until April 1956; 
and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Hope was equally successful in Hollywood and 
starred in over 50 films, including the massively popular "Road" 
pictures with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour, on the way to becoming 
Tinseltown's number one box-office draw; with the advent of 
television, Mr. Hope captivated home audiences as well, and through 
the years his shows consistently earned top Nielsen ratings; and
	WHEREAS, A staunch supporter of American servicemen and 
servicewomen, Mr. Hope  performed for U.S. soldiers across the 
globe, both in times of peace and war, for nearly 60 years; his 
unwavering commitment to bringing humor and a little bit of home to 
men and women in uniform has made him beloved among our nation's 
military personnel, and in 1997 he became the first person in the 
history of this nation to be named an Honorary Veteran by the United 
States Congress; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Hope is known far and wide as a golf enthusiast 
par excellence, and authored the best-selling Confessions of a 
Hooker, which featured anecdotes about his golfing experiences; in 
addition, he was instrumental in creating the Bob Hope Chrysler 
Classic pro-am golf tournament, an event that has raised more than 
$35 million for the Eisenhower Medical Center and other deserving 
charities; and
	WHEREAS, Although often lampooning his inability to win an 
acting Oscar as the long-standing emcee of the annual Academy 
Awards show, Mr. Hope did receive two honorary Oscars, two special 
awards, and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award; accorded an 
honorary knighthood in 1998 by Queen Elizabeth II, he has been cited 
by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most honored 
entertainer in the world; and
	WHEREAS, Through his extraordinary achievements on the 
stage, on the motion-picture screen, in radio, and in television, 
this remarkable man has won a place in our hearts that is as 
singular as his distinctive profile, and his star continues to 
shine ever brighter with each passing year as succeeding 
generations discover the enduring gifts he has bestowed on us all; 
now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby congratulate Bob Hope on the momentous occasion 
of his 100th birthday and extend to him a very sincere "thanks for 
the memories" from his legions of fans in Texas; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for Mr. Hope as an expression of high regard by the Texas 
House of Representatives.