H.R. No. 701

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The people of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas
	lost one of their most esteemed leaders with the death of Chief
	Oscola Clayton Marion Sylestine on January 31, 2013, at the age of
	80; and
	WHEREAS, A third-generation descendant of Alabama-Coushatta
	Sub-Chief Colabe, Clayton Marion Sylestine was born in 1932; he was
	renamed "Mikko Oscola," meaning flute, in 1993 while serving as
	second chief, and he was subsequently elected to the lifelong
	office of principal chief by a unanimous vote; he ably fulfilled the
	myriad duties of this pivotal role from his inauguration on January
	1, 1995, until his passing; and
	WHEREAS, Chief Oscola previously volunteered his noted
	leadership skills as an elected member of the Tribal Council for
	five terms, including one as chairman, and he served as an elder in
	the Indian Village Presbyterian Church; moreover, he worked
	diligently to share the rich history and traditions of his culture
	by speaking in local schools and making public appearances on
	behalf of his tribe; he also advocated for federal recognition of
	the tribe, which was reinstated in 1987; and
	WHEREAS, Retired from Champion Paper International, where he
	worked for 17 years, Chief Oscola pursued a number of traditional
	crafts; he was a master of river cane basketry, which involved
	harvesting and splitting bamboo-like cane and arranging it into
	basket form, and he further distinguished himself in longleaf pine
	needle basketry; in addition, he played for more than 30 years in
	the fast-pitch softball circuit, earning a reputation for his
	rising fastball; and
	WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to his community, Chief Oscola made a
	meaningful difference in the lives of his loved ones and fellow
	citizens alike, and his contributions to the Alabama-Coushatta
	Tribe of Texas will continue to resonate for years to come; now,
	therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
	Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Chief Oscola
	Clayton Marion Sylestine and extend sincere sympathy to the members
	of his family: to his wife, Ethelyn; to his two sons and two
	daughters; to his many 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 Chief
	Oscola Clayton Marion Sylestine.
	White
	Thompson of Harris
	Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
	Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
	Alonzo Gooden Otto
	Alvarado Guerra Paddie
	Anchia Guillen Parker
	Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
	Ashby Harless Perez
	Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
	Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
	Bohac Herrero Pickett
	Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
	Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
	Branch Huberty Raney
	Burkett Hughes Ratliff
	Burnam Hunter Raymond
	Button Isaac Reynolds
	Callegari Johnson Riddle
	Canales Kacal Ritter
	Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
	Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
	Clardy King of Parker Rose
	Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
	Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
	Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
	Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
	Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
	Creighton Krause Simmons
	Crownover Kuempel Simpson
	Dale Larson Smith
	Darby Laubenberg Smithee
	Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
	J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
	S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
	Deshotel Longoria Strama
	Dukes Lozano Taylor
	Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
	Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
	Elkins Martinez Toth
	Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
	Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
	Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
	Farrar Miles Villalba
	Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
	Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
	Frank Moody Walle
	Frullo Morrison White
	Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
	Giddings Murphy Wu
	Goldman Naishtat Zedler
	Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 701 was unanimously adopted by a rising
	vote of the House on March 7, 2013.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House