This website will be unavailable from Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, June 3, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. due to data center maintenance.

                                                                                


By:  Hunter                                                       H.R. No. 1677



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, James Parker of Abilene was born in Roby, Texas, in 
1930 as the second child of C.A. and Euna Magee Parker, who were 
great influences in his life and instilled in him the heartfelt need 
to give to others; and
	WHEREAS, His mother encouraged him at the age of 11 to go to 
work at a Sweetwater, Texas, grocery store owned by Sam Glass, where 
he learned how to be a stocker, sacker, and all-around handyman, not 
knowing that it would be his life work; and
	WHEREAS, He graduated from Sweetwater Newman High School in 
1947 and went on to Hardin-Simmons University, where he met the love 
of his life, Cynthia Ann Pearson of Lamesa, Texas, in his senior 
year, and they were married less than one year later; and
	WHEREAS, Their loving children, Jimmy, Terri, Carla, and 
Paige, have been a constant source of joy and pride to the Parkers 
over the years and have blessed them with grandchildren; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Parker became a business partner with his 
mentor, Sam Glass, and invested in Sunbeam Enterprises and Sam 
Glass Enterprises, doing business as Super Duper Food Store, Inc., 
with the first store in Sweetwater; and
	WHEREAS, The grocery store chain flourished and included 21 
stores across the state at its height, using innovative and 
visionary marketing with service as a core value; and
	WHEREAS, The thriving partnership ended in 1974 at the death 
of Mr. Glass when Mr. Parker became president of the company, 
selling it five years later to a German-based company operating as 
Furr Foods; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Parker has enjoyed the respect and admiration of 
people everywhere, especially in his hometown of Abilene, where he 
and his late wife Cynthia quietly benefitted untold numbers of 
those in need through their generous support and benefactors; and
	WHEREAS, This godly man became the largest shareholder in the 
parent company of the First National Bank of Abilene and was active 
as a civic leader in all aspects of the Abilene community, including 
his service to his alma mater Hardin-Simmons University, the 
Hendrick Medical Foundation, the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, as 
chairman of the Hendrick Medical Center Development Corporation, 
and many, many other non-profit organizations; and
	WHEREAS, He and his late wife have been devoted members since 
1959 of the First Baptist Church of Abilene, where he has served as 
a deacon and in many other capacities, and where she helped 
establish the GLO Day Care Center as one of the first in Abilene; 
she also served as a board member for Hendrick Hospice Care, the 
Paramount Theater, and was a volunteer for the Meals on Wheels, Plus 
of Abilene; and
	WHEREAS, James Parker and his family have reportedly given 
the largest gift in the history of Hardin-Simmons University to 
establish the Cynthia Ann Parker College of Liberal Arts in honor of 
his late wife, who lost her life to cancer; and
	WHEREAS, Because of his recent generous gift to the Hendrick 
Medical Center of Abilene, the James and Cynthia Parker wing of the 
hospital's main entrance was dedicated in special ceremonies on May 
28, 2003; and
	WHEREAS, This good man combined his Christian faith with the 
highest standards of business ethics to become a true servant 
leader; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby commend James Parker for his many significant 
contributions to his fellow Texans and extend to him sincere best 
wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for Mr. Parker and his children as an expression of high 
regard from the Texas House of Representatives.