81R20208 KO-D

By: Shelton H.R. No. 1194

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Delbert Willis, one of Fort Worth's most respected newspapermen, died on March 25, 1987, at the age of 72; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Willis, who began in the 1930s as a copy boy for the Fort Worth Press, devoted himself to the newspaper for over 40 years and was serving as its editor when the newspaper was closed in 1975; and

WHEREAS, This esteemed journalist later wrote a column for the Fort Worth News-Tribune, and he trained many of the reporters and editors on that newspaper's staff when they earlier worked for the Press; and

WHEREAS, Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mr. Willis enlisted in the United States Army; he served with honor as a lieutenant, fighting courageously during the invasion of Morotai Island in the South Pacific and sustaining wounds that ended his military service; and

WHEREAS, Many years later, in 1966, he wrote an outstanding front-page story relating to a dramatic meeting that he had just experienced during a visit to Tokyo; there, he met the ailing Japanese force commander who had led the ambush on Morotai Island which resulted in Mr. Willis' injuries during the attack; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Willis, a Neiman Fellowship winner at Harvard University, was a consummate professional whose distinctive newswriting style was immediately recognizable; "Farewell, Fort Worth," his headline for the final 1975 edition of the Fort Worth Press, succinctly reflected his longtime professional philosophy, which was, "Write 'em tight and write 'em interesting"; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas Legislature hereby honor the life of Delbert Willis; 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 Mr. Willis.