H.R. No. 957
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, The city of Pittsburg, Texas, lost a distinguished
  community leader with the passing of the Honorable D. H. Abernathy
  on September 24, 2008, at the age of 96; and
         WHEREAS, Mr. Abernathy took a prominent role in the
  government of his community for 57 years, 52 of which he served as
  mayor; his service as an elected official began in 1949, when he was
  elected to the city council, and concluded with his retirement as
  mayor in 2006, when he was in his early 90s; during that period, he
  missed only eight city council meetings, which is a testament to his
  dedication to his work as a public servant; and
         WHEREAS, Hailing from a prominent area family, Mr. Abernathy
  was the great-great-great-nephew of W. H. Pitts, for whom Pittsburg
  is named; he graduated from the city's high school in 1929 and went
  on to attain a mechanical engineering degree from the University of
  Oklahoma; employment in Oklahoma and Arkansas kept him away from
  his hometown for a number of years, but he ultimately returned to
  Texas and worked as the city electrical inspector for 23 years and
  as an employee of Lone Star Steel for 30 years; he and his wife,
  Laverne, raised three children and later had the pleasure of seeing
  their family extend to third, fourth, and fifth generations; and
         WHEREAS, Mayor Abernathy's dedication to his community and
  county extended beyond his duties as an elected official; he was
  active in the Camp County Arts Council, the Camp County Ambulance
  Service, and First Methodist Church, and he was president of the
  Camp County Chamber of Commerce; his input benefited regional and
  state organizations as well, including the East Texas Council of
  Governments and the Texas Municipal League, both of which he served
  as president, as well as the Fire Advisory Committee for the Texas
  Forest Service and the Northeast Texas Economic Development
  District executive committee; and
         WHEREAS, Committed to the ongoing development of
  northeastern Texas, Mayor Abernathy became a vocal advocate for
  improving the region's network of roads, and he was a founder and
  president of the East Texas Gulf Highway Association and a member of
  the Texas Good Roads/Transportation Association; his efforts were
  honored with the Road Hand Award from the Texas State Highway
  Commission and with the naming of D. H. Abernathy Boulevard;
  moreover, his many achievements in office garnered a number of
  other accolades through the years, including Man of the Year Awards
  from both the Camp County Chamber of Commerce and the Pittsburg
  Business and Professional Women; and
         WHEREAS, D. H. Abernathy helped guide Pittsburg and the
  surrounding area through an era that encompassed tremendous change,
  yet his allegiance to faithfully serving his constituents was
  constant, and his legacy of wise leadership will resonate far into
  the future; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
  Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Mayor D. H. Abernathy
  and extend deepest condolences to the members of his family: to his
  wife, Laverne Abernathy; to his children, W. David Abernathy, Mary
  Lou  Spradling,  and  Betty Ann  Harrel  and  her  husband, Dennis;
  to his 8 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 2
  great-great-grandchildren; 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 Mayor
  Abernathy.
 
  Hughes
 
  ______________________________
  Speaker of the House     
 
         I certify that H.R. No. 957 was unanimously adopted by a
  rising vote of the House on March 26, 2009.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House