79S31298 JHS-D

By:  Hughes                                                       H.R. No. 404



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The State of Texas lost a distinguished son with the 
passing of Max Sims Lale on April 22, 2006, at the age of 89; and
	WHEREAS, Recognized for his contributions as a historian and 
a journalist, this decorated World War II combat veteran also 
touched the lives of countless individuals with his years of 
dedicated civic service; and
	WHEREAS, Born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, on August 31, 1916, 
Mr. Lale earned his journalism degree from the University of 
Oklahoma and received a reserve commission as a second lieutenant 
of field artillery at the time of his graduation; and
	WHEREAS, In 1940, Mr. Lale volunteered for active duty in the 
army; during four campaigns in Europe, he rose to the rank of 
lieutenant colonel and earned the American Bronze Star, the French 
Croix de Guerre, and a unit citation in the general orders of the 
Belgian army before his discharge in March 1946; he later commanded 
the 647th Armored Field Artillery Battalion in the 49th Armored 
Division Texas National Guard and remained active in the U.S. Army 
Reserve; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Lale's journalism career included pre-war 
tenure with a weekly newspaper in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, longtime 
employment with the Marshall News Messenger, and three-plus years 
as publisher of the Greenville Herald Banner; and
	WHEREAS, As a resident of Marshall, he served as a city 
commissioner and president of the chamber of commerce, as well as 
president of the Marshall Jaycees and director of the local Red 
Cross, and he was honored by his fellow citizens with "Max Lale Day" 
in 1982; and
	WHEREAS, An accomplished and dedicated historian, Mr. Lale 
was a fellow and past president of the East Texas Historical 
Association, chairman of the Harrison County Historical 
Commission, and past president of the Texas Historical Association; 
he oversaw the preparation of 19 successful historical marker 
applications and nine successful listings on the National Register 
of Historical Places, and made valuable contributions to the East 
Texas Historical Journal, Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Red 
River Valley Historical Review, and Military History of Texas and 
the Southwest; moreover, he served as a historical consultant for 
the Bill Moyers Emmy Award-winning documentary, "A Walk Through the 
Twentieth Century," for which he earned a certificate from the 
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences; and
	WHEREAS, In the early 1960s, this talented individual began a 
14-year affiliation with Thiokol Chemical Corporation, serving as 
manager of communications and plant relations at Longhorn Army 
Ammunition Plant; preceded in death by his first wife, Georgiana 
Aspley Lale, Mr. Lale married the former Lloyd May "Cissy" Stewart 
in 1983 and enjoyed many happy years of marriage; and
	WHEREAS, Max Lale touched the lives of countless individuals 
during his long and fruitful life, and although he is deeply missed 
by those who knew and loved him, his spirit lives on in their 
hearts; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of 
Max Sims Lale and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his 
family: to his wife, Cissy Stewart Lale; to his brothers, Newton A. 
Lale, Jr., and Wallace R. Lale; to his nephews and nieces, Kenny Lee 
Lale, Judy N. Ward, Newlon A. Lale, Kathy Endicott, Larry Davies, 
Linda Prokes, Jan Browning, and Debra Butler; to his seven 
grandnieces and three grandnephews; and to his other relatives and 
friends; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of 
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Max Sims 
Lale.