SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 494

WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to pay tribute to retired Lieutenant General James Francis Hollingsworth, an American patriot, a highly decorated and respected military leader, and one of this state's most distinguished citizens, who is celebrating his 91st birthday on March 24, 2009; and

WHEREAS, James Francis Hollingsworth was born in 1918 near Sanger, Texas; after graduating from Texas A&M University in 1940, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army; he participated in seven major campaigns during World War II extending from North Africa to the occupation of Berlin in 1945 and successively commanded a platoon, a company, a battalion, and a regimental armored task force; and

WHEREAS, He held various posts after his World War II service, including commander of the School Troops Regiment and chief of combined arms instruction for the cavalry school at Fort Riley, Kansas, and later as chief of combined arms instruction at the United States Military Academy at West Point; and

WHEREAS, He served as commanding officer of a special troops regiment of the United States Constabulary in Germany, as a member of the Department of the Army staff, and as chief of the Army element of the United States military assistance advisory group in Pakistan, and he was designated deputy assistant secretary of defense in 1962; and

WHEREAS, He joined the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam in 1966 as assistant division commander; after assignments as deputy commanding general and commanding general in Maryland and South Carolina, he became commanding general of the United States Army, Alaska, in 1970, and he returned to Vietnam in 1971 and became commanding general of the III Military Region, United States Military Assistance Command; and

WHEREAS, General Hollingsworth served in Korea from July, 1973, to February, 1976, and led the largest field army command in the world, consisting of 13 divisions and 185,000 troops from the Republic of Korea and the United States; and

WHEREAS, During 36 years of honorable and meritorious service to his country, he earned numerous medals and citations, including three Distinguished Service Crosses, four Distinguished Service Medals, four Silver Star Medals, three Legion of Merit Medals, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Soldier's Medal, four Bronze Star Medals and the Valor Device, and 37 Air Medals and the Valor Device, the Army Commendation Medal, and six Purple Heart Medals; and

WHEREAS, General Hollingsworth retired in 1976 and founded a consulting business; over the years, he has remained loyal to his alma mater, serving on many advisory boards and committees and endowing several scholarships at Texas A&M University; in 1999, the university dedicated a life-sized bronze statue of him; and

WHEREAS, A great patriot, a superb soldier, a successful businessman, and a generous philanthropist, General James F. Hollingsworth is a revered resident of San Antonio; he is an exemplary role model not just for those who serve in the military but to all Texans, indeed, to all Americans; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st Legislature, hereby recognize retired Lieutenant General James Francis Hollingsworth as a treasured citizen of this state and join his family and friends in extending to him best wishes on the occasion of his 91st birthday; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for General James F. Hollingsworth as an expression of highest regard from the Texas Senate.

Wentworth

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on March 20, 2009.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate