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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Family and friends are mourning the loss of Dr. Jack |
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Homer Hittson, Jr., of Rockwall, who passed away on February 10, |
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2009, at the age of 83; and |
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WHEREAS, A fifth-generation Texan, Jack Hittson was born on |
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June 19, 1925, in Palo Pinto, into one of the area's pioneer |
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ranching families; he graduated from Strawn High School and went on |
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to attend The University of Texas at Arlington when he was only 16; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Answering his nation's call to duty during World War |
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II, he left college to enlist in the U.S. Navy, and he became a navy |
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pilot; after the war, he resumed his studies and graduated from |
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Baylor College of Dentistry at the age of 23; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Hittson's early career as a dentist was |
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adventurous; he practiced first in Panama, where he met and married |
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an elementary school teacher, the former Elizabeth Weltzin; in |
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1950, the young couple moved to Alaska, where Dr. Hittson practiced |
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aboard the public health ship MV Health; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1955, Dr. Hittson returned to Texas and |
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subsequently earned a graduate degree in orthodontics at the |
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University of Tennessee at Memphis; he moved to Garland and had no |
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sooner set up his practice when he was recommissioned for medical |
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military service by the army during the Korean War; he was stationed |
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in Orleans, France, where he was joined by his family; and |
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WHEREAS, After his discharge in 1957, Dr. Hittson returned to |
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Garland, where he established one of the first orthodontic |
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practices in North Texas; for nearly 30 years, he devoted himself to |
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creating beautiful smiles for several generations of young people |
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in Garland and Rockwall before he retired at the age of 60; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Hittson was active in his profession as a member |
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of the Garland Dental Study Club and the Texas Dental Association; |
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he was also a vital participant in community affairs, working with |
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the YMCA, the Boy Scouts, the Masons, and the Democratic Party; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout his life, Dr. Hittson expressed his |
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curiosity about the world through a wide variety of interests; a |
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cattle rancher, a beekeeper, and a woodworker, he also rebuilt |
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Model A Fords and collected arrowheads, and he enjoyed studying |
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American history, telling stories, and writing short fiction; and |
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WHEREAS, Devoted to his family, community, and profession, |
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Jack Hittson led a rich and purposeful life, and he will always be |
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remembered with great admiration and affection by all those who |
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were privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. Jack Homer |
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Hittson, Jr., and extend sincere condolences to the members of his |
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family: to his wife of 59 years, Elizabeth Edith Weltzin Hittson; to |
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his daughters, State Representative Carol Hittson Kent and her |
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husband, David C. Kent, and Suzanne Laura Hittson and her husband, |
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Kevin L. Smith; to his sons, Jeffery Roy Hittson and his wife, Mary |
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Pacheco, and William Jack Hittson and his wife, Kathy L. Ellis; to |
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his grandchildren, John Kent and his wife, Kelly, Meredith Kent, |
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Robert Kent, Amanda Hittson, Terra Hittson, Anne Hittson, Finn |
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Hittson, Lauren Hittson-Smith, Rachal Hittson-Smith, Jack |
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Hittson-Smith, and Hannah Hittson; to his sister, Mildred Harriet |
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Million, and her grandson, Tom Million, and his wife, Melissa; and |
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to his other relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Dr. Hittson's family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dr. Jack |
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Homer Hittson, Jr. |