H.R. No. 1814



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, A full and generous life came to an end with the 
passing of Evan H. Wathen of Beaumont on February 8, 2005, at the 
age of 83; and
	WHEREAS, Born in Athens on January 7, 1922, Slats Wathen 
served his country in both World War II, when he served with U.S. 
Army General George Patton as a tank commander during the Battle of 
the Bulge, and in the Korean War; after earning a degree in 
landscape horticulture from Texas A&M University and a degree in 
accounting from Lamar University, he cofounded the Beaumont CPA 
firm of Wathen, DeShong, and Juncker and worked for many years; and
	WHEREAS, After retiring, Mr. Wathen participated in the 
Golden Triangle Emmaus Community, a Christian renewal movement, and 
the Kairos Prison Ministry; he also dedicated four days a week for 
15 years to reading to inner-city elementary school students and 
received the Jefferson Award for his outstanding volunteer work; 
and
	WHEREAS, One of this tall Texan's greatest joys was gardening 
and, in particular, growing roses; a founder of the  Golden Triangle 
Rose Society, he received the first Guy Blake Hedrick Award, a 
national honor for exhibiting excellence, as well as numerous other 
awards, including the Bronze Honor Medal, the Silver Honor Medal, 
the Outstanding Judge Award, the District's Outstanding Consulting 
Rosarian Award, and the most prestigious of all, the American Rose 
Society National Gold Honor Medal, which he won in 2001; a caring 
mentor who freely offered advice and assistance to other rose 
enthusiasts, he wrote numerous rose culture articles for national, 
district, and local publications and lectured extensively on the 
subject throughout the South; and
	WHEREAS, Although Slats Wathen had attained a somewhat 
legendary status in the community, he was always quiet and 
unassuming about his accomplishments and, despite health 
challenges, retained an optimistic outlook and an infectious sense 
of humor; a man who inspired love, affection, and respect 
everywhere he went, he is truly missed; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Evan H. Wathen and 
extend sincere sympathy to his family: to his wife, Lucille, to his 
children, Lunette King, Carolyn Patterson and her husband, Jeff, 
Ellen Jones and her husband, Charles, Grace Wathen, Peggy Knapp and 
her husband, Leland, Ray Wathen and his wife, Teri, Cody Wathen and 
his wife, Nanci, and Jay Scott Wathen and his wife, Debbie; to his 
18 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; to his brother, 
Thurman "Shug" Wathen and his wife, Julie; to his sisters, Martha 
Smith and her husband, Loyd, and Mary Ruth White; to his 
sister-in-law, Nita Carol Wathen; to his brother-in-law, Henry 
Floyd and his wife, Patricia; and to his other relatives and many 
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 Slats 
Wathen.

                                                                          Ritter


                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 1814 was unanimously adopted by a 
rising vote of the House on May 27, 2005.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House