SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 102



	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to 

recognize the 100th anniversary of the Odd Fellow and Rebekah 

Retirement Center; and

	WHEREAS, In 1895, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of 

Texas began the work of planning a retirement home for its 

members and their wives, setting aside $10,000 to begin a fund to 

establish a home architecturally commensurate with the growth of 

the organization; and

	WHEREAS, Through interest earned on that fund and with the 

dues collected from members, a fitting structure was erected and 

the Odd Fellow and Rebekah Home for the Aged was opened in 1905 in 

Corsicana; and

	WHEREAS, In 1924, the organization embarked on a search for 

a new site; based on its generous offer of 100 acres of choice 

farm land and its abundant, pure water supply, the city of Ennis 

was chosen to be the home of the new retirement center; and

	WHEREAS, The new home, three floors high with its front 

framed by magnificent arches, opened its doors in 1928; the 

retirement center's original structure was replaced in 1971; a 

nursing home opened in 1962 as an annex to the retirement center 

and was relocated to its new building in 1989; and

	WHEREAS, The residents of the Odd Fellow and Rebekah 

Retirement Center live independently but look after each other 

like a large, extended family; now, therefore, be it

	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

79th Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby commend the 

founders of the Odd Fellow and Rebekah Retirement Center and all 

associated with the center today for its 100 years of service to 

the members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and, be it 

further

	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 

the center as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.

                                                                         Averitt









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    President of the Senate

 

    I hereby certify that the 

above Resolution was adopted by 

the Senate on August 15, 2005.







________________________________ 

    Secretary of the Senate







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     Member, Texas Senate