SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 366

	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to 
recognize Clara Stearns Scarbrough for her many contributions
to the people of Williamson County and the State of Texas; and

	WHEREAS, Clara Stearns was born in Circleville and lived 
near the San Gabriel River until her family moved to nearby 
Taylor when she was 15; she graduated summa cum laude with a 
bachelor's degree and earned a master's degree in music from
The University of Texas at Austin; and

	WHEREAS, She taught at The University of Texas music school 
and headed music programs in Conroe and Georgetown; after she 
married Don Scarbrough, she started managing newspapers; and

	WHEREAS, While her husband was serving in World War II, she 
managed the Taylor Times, which she and Don had founded in 1939; 
ten years later, they sold that newspaper and purchased the 
Williamson County Sun in Georgetown, where the couple raised 
their two daughters, Linda and Donna; and

	WHEREAS, Clara managed the newspaper's business and 
circulation and wrote award-winning articles; she and Don 
eventually acquired half a dozen newspapers in Central Texas;
in addition to managing their newspaper businesses, the couple 
championed the historic preservation and beautification of 
Georgetown; and

	WHEREAS, History is Clara's great love, and after observing 
the radical changes in Williamson County as a result of the 
construction of Interstate 35 and two large dams on the
San Gabriel River, she decided to document the county she had 
known, an ethnically diverse place where King Cotton, cattle 
barons, young universities, and political kingpins intersected; 
and

	WHEREAS, The book she spent seven years writing, Land of 
Good Water:  A Williamson County, Texas, History, won the state's 
highest award for regional history after it was published in 
1973; and

	WHEREAS, The book sparked broad interest in local
history and architectural landmarks in Georgetown and laid the 
foundation for restoration of its historic courthouse square; it 
raised the level of local history telling in Texas and provided a 
model for scores of historians; and

	WHEREAS, Clara Scarbrough is now 88 years old and
maintains an active lifestyle; she hosts regular meetings of
the Williamson County Historical Commission, which she helped
to establish three decades ago; and

	WHEREAS, She practices the piano daily and reads histories 
and biographies; she enjoys her two grandchildren, Grace Josey 
and Kate Thurmond, and she is an active member of the First United 
Methodist Church; and

	WHEREAS, An exemplary Texas citizen, Clara Scarbrough
is highly respected for her historical expertise and her
talent as a writer, and she deserves recognition for her
many accomplishments and her invaluable contributions to
Williamson County; now, therefore, be it

	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
78th Legislature, hereby commend Clara Stearns Scarbrough for 
her exceptional achievements and the positive influence she has 
had on the lives of others and extend best wishes to her for the 
future; and, be it further

	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 
her as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
                                                                           Ogden




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on March 18, 2003.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate