H.R. No. 448


R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The family and friends of Ethel Lamone Hamilton King were deeply saddened by the passing of this extraordinary educator and community volunteer on March 22, 2006, at the age of 72; and WHEREAS, Born on March 1, 1934, in Waco, Mrs. King attended public schools in the Waco area and graduated from A. J. Moore High School at the top of her class when she was 15 years old; she attended Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, and then transferred to Huston-Tillotson College in Austin, where she graduated with honors; Mrs. King earned her master's degree in counseling, special education, and guidance at Texas Southern University, and she later worked toward her Ph.D. in education at East Texas State University; and WHEREAS, Mrs. King applied her education to build a successful career that began with teaching nursing and serving as dean of women at Paul Quinn College as well as teaching special education in the Temple ISD; after transferring to the Waco ISD, Mrs. King worked for Barton Springs Elementary School, Sul Ross Elementary, and South Waco Junior High School; during the summer months she taught reading at Paul Quinn College, which led her to become the director of the Right to Read program; and WHEREAS, Having accumulated a wealth of education and experience, Mrs. King took a position with the Region XII Education Service Center, where she was instrumental in promoting and implementing the educational guidelines for schools in Central Texas; her final workplace was the Mexia ISD, which she ably served as an educational diagnostician and supervisor; in this capacity, she was influential in the development and socialization of special-needs children; and WHEREAS, In addition to being a prominent educator, Mrs. King was a tireless volunteer for Meals on Wheels, Muscular Dystrophy, YWCA, and the Sickle Cell Anemia Association of Central Texas; she also selflessly served the New Hope Baptist Church as a member of the trustee board and finance committee, member of the adult choir, president and treasurer of the Women's Mission Auxiliary, and stewardship restoration committee board member; and WHEREAS, Mrs. King focused her energies and talents to benefit Jack and Jill of America, Inc., serving as a national nominating committee chairperson, regional secretary-treasurer, regional parliamentarian, and regional associate chairperson, and working in each office of the local Waco chapter; the first chairperson of both the Waco Debutante and Beautillion Society Balls, she was a life member and served as lead teen sponsor until her passing; considered to be the only member of the national organization with consecutive membership for 45 years, Mrs. King was named "The Diva" of the South Central Region of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.; and WHEREAS, She also held memberships in the Gamma Upsilon Chapter of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., the Texas Educational Diagnosticians' Association, the Texas Southern University Alumni Association, the Huston-Tillotson Alumni Association, and the A. J. Moore High School Alumni Association; and WHEREAS, The recipient of myriad accolades, Mrs. King was honored by the mayor of Waco for her work with the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of Waco in 1975, and she was recognized by the Waco Youth Center for Volunteer Services in 1999; and WHEREAS, Although she is profoundly missed by her loved ones, her spirit will continue to live on in their hearts, and her legacy of service will benefit future generations of Texans; 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 Ethel Lamone Hamilton King and extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her son, Edwin D. King; to her sisters, Novella H. Corzine, Cecile H. McQuirter, and Theresa H. Jackson; to her foster sister, Ouida Lumpkins; and to her many other relatives and friends; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ethel Lamone Hamilton King. Dunnam Jones of Dallas ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 448 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on May 12, 2006. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House